The nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase (NuRD) complex is an essential multi-subunit protein complex that regulates higher-order chromatin structure. Cancers that use the alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) pathway of telomere maintenance recruit NuRD to their telomeres. This interaction is mediated by the N-terminal domain of the zinc-finger protein ZNF827. NuRD–ZNF827 plays a vital role in the ALT pathway by creating a molecular platform for recombination-mediated repair. Disruption of NuRD binding results in loss of ALT cell viability. Here, we present the crystal structure of the NuRD subunit RBBP4 bound to the N-terminal 14 amino acids of ZNF827. RBBP4 forms a negatively charged channel that binds to ZNF827 through a network of electrostatic interactions. We identify the precise amino acids in RBBP4 required for this interaction and demonstrate that disruption of these residues prevents RBBP4 binding to both ZNF827 and telomeres, but is insufficient to decrease ALT activity. These data provide insights into the structural and functional determinants of NuRD activity at ALT telomeres.
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A schematic representation of the steps in involved in single-molecule calligraphy using the TERI (trapping the enzymatic reaction intermediate) technique used by Hazra et al. to track force-activated reaction pathways in real time. In this issue, these authors report on the mechanism of the sortase A enzymatic reaction that, counter-intuitively, accelerates bacterial adhesion under shear tension. For details, see pages 2611–2620.
Structural and functional characterization of the RBBP4–ZNF827 interaction and its role in NuRD recruitment to telomeres
Sile F. Yang, Ai-ai Sun, Yunyu Shi, Fudong Li, Hilda A. Pickett; Structural and functional characterization of the RBBP4–ZNF827 interaction and its role in NuRD recruitment to telomeres. Biochem J 31 August 2018; 475 (16): 2667–2679. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20180310
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