Abstract
Single crystal X-ray diffraction and circular dichroism studies of protamine binding to a tRNA suggest that the protamine molecule changes its conformation from a random coil to a structure containing α helices on binding to tRNA, and that α-helical segment(s) of protamine bind approximately along a shallow groove of a double-helical portion of tRNA. Based on these observations, a structural model for nucleoprotamine is proposed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Feughelman, M. et al. Nature 175, 834–838 (1955).
Wilkins, M. H. F. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. quant. Biol. 21, 75–90 (1956).
Suwalsky, M. & Traub, W. Biopolymers 11, 2223–2231 (1972).
Bradbury, E. M., Price, W. C. & Wilkinson, G. R. J. molec. Biol. 4, 39–49 (1962).
Herskovitz, T. T. & Brahms, J. Biopolymers 15, 687–706 (1976).
Inoue, S. & Fuke, M. Biochim. biophys. Acta 204, 296–303 (1970).
Mirzabekov, A., San'ko, D., Kolchinsky, A. & Melnikova, A. Eur. J. Biochem. 75, 379–389 (1977).
Ando, T., Yamasaki, M. & Suzuki, K. Protamines: Isolation, Characterization, Structure and Function, 84 (Springer, New York, 1973).
Luzzati, V. & Nicolaieff, A. J. molec. Biol. 7, 142–163 (1963).
Kim, S.-H., Quigley, G., Suddath, F. L. & Rich, A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 68, 841–845 (1971).
Kim, S.-H. et al. Science 185 435–440 (1974).
Sussman, J. L., Holbrook, S. R., Church, G. M. & Kim, S.-H. Acta Crystallogr. A33, 800–804 (1977).
Ando, T. & Watanabe, S. Int. J. Protein Res. 1, 221–224 (1969).
Bradbury, E. M., Crane-Robinson, C., Goldman, H., Rattle, H. W. E. & Stephens, R. M. J. molec. Biol. 29, 507–523 (1967).
Chou, P. & Fasman, G. Biochemistry 13, 211 (1974).
Croft, L. R. Handbook of Protein Sequences (Joynson-Bruvvers Ltd, Oxford, 1973).
Church, G. M., Sussman, J. L. & Kim, S.-H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 1458–1462 (1977).
Suzuki, K. & Ando, T. J. Biochem (Tokyo) 65, 831–834 (1969).
Ingles, C. J. & Dixon, G. H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 58, 1011–1018 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Warrant, R., Kim, SH. α-Helix–double helix interaction shown in the structure of a protamine-transfer RNA complex and a nucleoprotamine model. Nature 271, 130–135 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271130a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/271130a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Secondary structure of protamine in sperm nuclei: an infrared spectroscopy study
BMC Structural Biology (2011)
-
Mammalian sperm chromatin structure and assessment of DNA fragmentation
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (2007)
-
Electrophoretic analysis of proteins and enantiomers using capillaries modified by a successive multiple ionic-polymer layer (SMIL) coating technique
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2006)
-
3PO, a novel nonviral gene delivery system using engineered Ad5 penton proteins
Gene Therapy (2001)
-
Vertebrate protamine gene evolution I. Sequence alignments and gene structure
Journal of Molecular Evolution (1990)