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. 1993 Oct 15;90(20):9562–9565. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.20.9562

A single-base-pair mutation changes the specificities of both a transcription activation protein and its binding site.

D M Retallack 1, L L Johnson 1, S F Ziegler 1, M A Strauch 1, D I Friedman 1
PMCID: PMC47609  PMID: 8415741

Abstract

The C1 protein of bacteriophage P22 binds to a unique site in the -35 region of the PRE promoter and activates transcription of the phage c2 repressor gene. This -35 target has an approximate direct repeat that overlaps the 5' end of the c1 coding region. We have isolated a single-base-pair mutation in this region that changes the PRE -35 target as well as the amino-terminal region of the C1 protein. Although the mutant C1 protein activates the mutant PRE promoter, it fails to activate the wild-type PRE promoter. This suggests that a single-base-pair mutation changes the specificities of both a protein and its target site. These studies also indicate that C1 binding to DNA is influenced by contacts made through residues near the amino terminus.

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Selected References

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