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Structure of an atypical Tudor domain in the Drosophila Polycomblike protein
Author(s) -
Friberg Anders,
Oddone Anna,
Klymenko Tetyana,
Müller Jürg,
Sattler Michael
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
protein science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.353
H-Index - 175
eISSN - 1469-896X
pISSN - 0961-8368
DOI - 10.1002/pro.476
Subject(s) - prc2 , histone , chromatin , epigenetics , histone h3 , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , lysine , genetics , biochemistry , chemistry , gene , amino acid
Abstract Post‐translational modifications of histone tails are among the most prominent epigenetic marks and play a critical role in transcriptional control at the level of chromatin. The Polycomblike (Pcl) protein is part of a histone methyltransferase complex (Pcl‐PRC2) responsible for high levels of histone H3 K27 trimethylation. Studies in Drosophila larvae suggest that Pcl is required for anchoring Pcl‐PRC2 at target genes, but how this is achieved is unknown. Pcl comprises a Tudor domain and two PHD fingers. These domains are known to recognize methylated lysine or arginine residues and could contribute to targeting of Pcl‐PRC2. Here, we report an NMR structure of the Tudor domain from Drosophila Pcl (Pcl‐Tudor) and binding studies with putative ligands. Pcl‐Tudor contains an atypical, incomplete aromatic cage that does not interact with known Tudor domain ligands, such as methylated lysines or arginines. Interestingly, human Pcl orthologs exhibit a complete aromatic cage, suggesting that they may recognize methylated lysines. Structural comparison with other Tudor domains suggests that Pcl‐Tudor may engage in intra‐ or intermolecular interactions through an exposed hydrophobic surface patch.