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Nucleic Acids Research, 1995, Vol. 23, No. 9 1590-1596
© 1995

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

The DNA binding domain of the vaccinia virus early transcription factor small subunit is an extended helicase-like motif

Jing Li+ and Steven S. Broyles*

Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1153, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed

Received December 5, 1994. Revised March 15, 1995. Accepted March 15, 1995.

The vaccinia virus early transcription factor (VETF) Is an ATP-dependent activator of the early class of viral genes. VETF is a heterodimeric protein that binds an initiator-like element surrounding the start site of transcription. Previous studies indicated that the small subunit of VETF contacts the promoter DNA. We have taken a mutational approach to determine sequences In the VETF small subunit that are important for DNA binding. Two types of sequences were targeted for mutation: ones resembling motifs that are conserved In the nucleic acid hellcase family and positively charged residues in predicted {alpha}-helices. Mutations affecting transcription activation were clustered in two regions. One mutation that impaired DNA binding is located near the N-termlnus within the putative ATP-binding pocket that comprises helicase domain I. DNA binding was also severely reduced by mutations in a sequence resembling helicase domain VI and two putative {alpha}-helices that flank this domain In the C-ter-minal third of the polypeptide. These results indicate that the DNA binding domain in the small subunit of VETF is not Isolated within a separable domain as is the case with most transcription factors, but rather, spans most of the length of the 637 residue polypeptide. A model for VETF structure is suggested in which the active site for ATP hydrolysis Is integrated within an extended DNA-binding domain such that the structure and function of each domain influences that of the other.

+present address: Laboratory of Immunobiology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA


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