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. 1995 Dec 15;14(24):6280–6291. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1995.tb00318.x

Structure of the even-skipped homeodomain complexed to AT-rich DNA: new perspectives on homeodomain specificity.

J A Hirsch 1, A K Aggarwal 1
PMCID: PMC394752  PMID: 8557047

Abstract

even-skipped is a homeobox gene important in controlling segment patterning in the embryonic fruit fly. Its homeobox encodes a DNA binding domain which binds with similar affinities to two DNA consensus sequences, one AT-rich, the other GC-rich. We describe a crystallographic analysis of the Even-skipped homeodomain complexed to an AT-rich oligonucleotide at 2.0 A resolution. The structure reveals a novel arrangement of two homeodomains bound to one 10 bp DNA sequence in a tandem fashion. This arrangement suggests a mechanism for the homeoproteins' regulatory specificity. In addition, the functionally important residue Gln50 is observed in multiple conformations making direct and water-mediated hydrogen bonds with the DNA bases.

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