Structural Studies Of Protein Nucleic Acid Interaction

In this 1993 text, Nobel Prize winner Professor Steitz reviews the wide-ranging research in structural studies of DNA-binding proteins and their complexes with DNA. The author clearly and concisely describes the uses of techniques in molecular genetics, DNA synthesis, protein crystallography and nuclear magnetic response.

This book provides both in-depth background and up-to-date information in this area. The chapters are organized by general themes and principles, written by experts who illustrate topics with current findings. Topics covered include: - the role of ions and hydration in protein-nucleic acid interactions - transcription factors and combinatorial specificity - indirect readout of DNA sequence - single-stranded nucleic acid binding proteins - nucleic acid junctions and proteins, - RNA protein recognition - recognition of DNA damage. It will be a key reference for both advanced students and established scientists wishing to broaden their horizons.

This volume contains a series of essays which describe a range of problems in the field of nucleic-acid interactions, investigated by a variety of techniques. An introductory chapter on DNA-protein interactions in the regulation of gene expression is followed by papers on selected model systems.

A Safety Considerations Many techniques described here involve a number of hazards, such as high electrical current and voltage, radioactivity and highly toxic chemicals. It is absolutely essential that the instructions of equipment manufacturers be followed, and that particular attention be paid to the local and federal safety regulations. B Introduction The expression of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes has been shown most often to be regulated at the level of mRNA synthesis. Thanks to the rapid development of methods for dissecting DNA sequences, cis-acting regulatory elements such as promoters and enhancers have been recognised. More recently, the widely expressed intuition that discrete sequences within these elements constitute binding sites for sequence-specific binding proteins has been confirmed, especially through the use of "footprinting" assays (for examples, Galas and Schmitz, 1978). This and similar assays have already resulted in the recognition, isolation and analysis of DNA-bind ing proteins for several genes. Excellent reviews exist of the structural studies on these transcription regulatory proteins and related DNA elements (for example, Glover, 1989 and Johnson and McKnight, 1989), to which the reader is referred for detailed information. To set the scene for applications of the techniques described in this volume, only the barest outline of previous studies is presented here. Protein-DNA interactions are dependent on very specific tertiary configurations of the binding protein which allow the closest contact with the DNA helix.

This book is indexed in Chemical Abstracts ServiceThe interactions of proteins with other molecules are important in many cellular activities. Investigations have been carried out to understand the recognition mechanism, identify the binding sites, analyze the the binding affinity of complexes, and study the influence of mutations on diseases. Protein interactions are also crucial in structure-based drug design.This book covers computational analysis of protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid and protein-ligand interactions and their applications. It provides up-to-date information and the latest developments from experts in the field, using illustrations to explain the key concepts and applications. This volume can serve as a single source on comparative studies of proteins interacting with proteins/DNAs/RNAs/carbohydrates and small molecules.

Principles of Nucleic Acid Structure, Second Edition, provides the most complete and concise summary of underlying principles and approaches to studying nucleic acid structure, including discussions of X-ray crystallography, NMR, molecular modelling and databases. The book's focus is on a survey of structures that are especially important for biomedical research and pharmacological applications. This updated edition includes the latest advances relevant to recognition of DNA and RNA by small molecules and proteins, including sections on RNA folding, ribosome structure and antibiotic interactions, DNA quadruplexes, DNA and RNA protein complexes and short interfering RNA (siRNA). This reference is a must-have for those seeking an authoritative, comprehensive and up-to-date source on all aspects of nucleic acid structure, from basic first principles to details of recent research results. Completely updated, with an expanded section on protein-nucleic acid interactions that reflects major increases in our knowledge Defines technical terms for novices Includes a complete list of resources, including relevant online databases and software, as well as useful websites

Interactions between nucleic acids and proteins are essential requirements for the viability of cellular life because they are indispensable for many basic biological processes. DNA is typically presented as a specific double-stranded helical structure, but nucleic acids have great structural flexibility. Current knowledge demonstrates that the structural conformations of nucleic acids play critical roles in protein-DNA interactions. This book presents a collection of research findings published in the Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, titled "Impacts of Molecular Structure on Nucleic Acid-Protein Interactions". The breadth of research findings reported here demonstrates that the structural flexibility of nucleic acids plays critical roles in their interactions with proteins, with important implications across a range of human diseases, including cancer and some infectious diseases. Prof. Richard Bowater University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom Prof. Václav Brázda Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic