7BZG

Structure of Bacillus subtilis HxlR, wild type in complex with formaldehyde and DNA

Summary for 7BZG

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb7bzg/pdb
• Related: 7BZD
• Descriptor: HTH-type transcriptional activator HxlR, DNA (5'-D(*CP*AP*GP*TP*AP*TP*CP*CP*TP*CP*GP*AP*GP*GP*AP*TP*AP*CP*TP*G)-3'), FORMYL GROUP, ... (8 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: transcriptional regulator, formaldehyde sensing, dna binding protein, dna binding protein-dna complex
• Biological source: Bacillus subtilis (strain 168); More
• Total number of polymer chains: 12
• Total formula weight: 124817.08

Authors

Zhu, R.,Chen, P.R. (deposition date: 2020-04-27, release date: 2021-02-03, Last modification date: 2024-11-20)

Primary citation

Zhu, R.,Zhang, G.,Jing, M.,Han, Y.,Li, J.,Zhao, J.,Li, Y.,Chen, P.R.
Genetically encoded formaldehyde sensors inspired by a protein intra-helical crosslinking reaction.
Nat Commun, 12:581-581, 2021

PubMed Abstract: Formaldehyde (FA) has long been considered as a toxin and carcinogen due to its damaging effects to biological macromolecules, but its beneficial roles have been increasingly appreciated lately. Real-time monitoring of this reactive molecule in living systems is highly desired in order to decipher its physiological and/or pathological functions, but a genetically encoded FA sensor is currently lacking. We herein adopt a structure-based study of the underlying mechanism of the FA-responsive transcription factor HxlR from Bacillus subtilis, which shows that HxlR recognizes FA through an intra-helical cysteine-lysine crosslinking reaction at its N-terminal helix α1, leading to conformational change and transcriptional activation. By leveraging this FA-induced intra-helical crosslinking and gain-of-function reorganization, we develop the genetically encoded, reaction-based FA sensor-FAsor, allowing spatial-temporal visualization of FA in mammalian cells and mouse brain tissues.

PubMed: 33495458
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20754-4

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (2.9 Å)