6G6L

The crystal structures of Human MYC:MAX bHLHZip complex

Summary for 6G6L

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb6g6l/pdb
• Descriptor: Myc proto-oncogene protein, Protein max, SULFATE ION, ... (4 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: myc/max, apoptosis
• Biological source: Homo sapiens (Human); More
• Total number of polymer chains: 8
• Total formula weight: 86986.25

Authors

Allen, M.D.,Zinzalla, G. (deposition date: 2018-04-01, release date: 2019-04-10, Last modification date: 2023-04-05)

Primary citation

Sammak, S.,Hamdani, N.,Gorrec, F.,Allen, M.D.,Freund, S.M.V.,Bycroft, M.,Zinzalla, G.
Crystal Structures and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of the Apo Form of the c-MYC:MAX bHLHZip Complex Reveal a Helical Basic Region in the Absence of DNA.
Biochemistry, 58:3144-3154, 2019

PubMed Abstract: The c-MYC transcription factor is a master regulator of cell growth and proliferation and is an established target for cancer therapy. This basic helix-loop-helix Zip protein forms a heterodimer with its obligatory partner MAX, which binds to DNA via the basic region. Considerable research efforts are focused on targeting the heterodimerization interface and the interaction of the complex with DNA. The only available crystal structure is that of a c-MYC:MAX complex artificially tethered by an engineered disulfide linker and prebound to DNA. We have carried out a detailed structural analysis of the apo form of the c-MYC:MAX complex, with no artificial linker, both in solution using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallography. We have obtained crystal structures in three different crystal forms, with resolutions between 1.35 and 2.2 Å, that show extensive helical structure in the basic region. Determination of the α-helical propensity using NMR chemical shift analysis shows that the basic region of c-MYC and, to a lesser extent, that of MAX populate helical conformations. We have also assigned the NMR spectra of the c-MYC basic helix-loop-helix Zip motif in the absence of MAX and showed that the basic region has an intrinsic helical propensity even in the absence of its dimerization partner. The presence of helical structure in the basic regions in the absence of DNA suggests that the molecular recognition occurs via a conformational selection rather than an induced fit. Our work provides both insight into the mechanism of DNA binding and structural information to aid in the development of MYC inhibitors.

PubMed: 31260268
DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00296

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (2.2 Å)