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Article
Structural Evidence for Consecutive Hel308-Like Modules in the Spliceosomal ATPase Brr2
Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
  • L. Zhang
  • T. Xu
  • Corina Maeder, Trinity University
  • L.-O. Bud
  • J. Shanks
  • J. Nix
  • C. Guthrie
  • J. A Pleiss
  • R. Zhao
Document Type
Post-Print
Publication Date
7-1-2009
Abstract

Brr2 is a DExD/H-box helicase responsible for U4/U6 unwinding during spliceosomal activation. Brr2 contains two helicase-like domains, each of which is followed by a Sec63 domain with unknown function. We determined the crystal structure of the second Sec63 domain, which unexpectedly resembles domains 4 and 5 of DNA helicase Hel308. This, together with sequence similarities between Brr2's helicase-like domains and domains 1-3 of Hel308, led us to hypothesize that Brr2 contains two consecutive Hel308-like modules (Hel308-I and Hel308-II). Our structural model and mutagenesis data suggest that Brr2 shares a similar helicase mechanism with Hel308. We demonstrate that Hel308-II interacts with Prp8 and Snu114 in vitro and in vivo. We further find that the C-terminal region of Prp8 (Prp8-CTR) facilitates the binding of the Brr2-Prp8-CTR complex to U4/U6. Our results have important implications for the mechanism and regulation of Brr2's activity in splicing.

DOI
10.1038/nsmb.1625
Publisher
Springer Nature
Citation Information
Zhang, L., Xu, T., Maeder, C., Bud, L. -., Shanks, J., Nix, J., . . . Zhao, R. (2009). Structural evidence for consecutive Hel308-like modules in the spliceosomal ATPase Brr2. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 16(7), 731-739. https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.1625