Integration Host Factor and Its Interaction With the H-Prime Site of Bacteriophage Lambda
Read, Erik Karl
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/86725
Description
Title
Integration Host Factor and Its Interaction With the H-Prime Site of Bacteriophage Lambda
Author(s)
Read, Erik Karl
Issue Date
1997
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Gardner, Jeffrey F.
Department of Study
Microbiology
Discipline
Microbiology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biology, Molecular
Language
eng
Abstract
Integration Host Factor (IHF) is a sequence-specific DNA-bending protein of Escherichia coli that recognizes the DNA through contacts made to the backbone and the minor groove. IHF binds specifically to the H$\sp\prime$ site, $5\sp\prime$-TAAAAAAGCATTGCTTATCAATTTGTTGCAACGA-$3\sp\prime$, with a $\rm K\sb{d}(app)$ of 1 nM. Substitution of an A for the G within the TTG element, which is allowable in the consensus, increases the $\rm K\sb{d}(app)$ to 10 nM and indicates that context is important in the recognition of this conserved position. Any other single base substitution within the TTG element increases the Kd(app) of IHF for the H$\sp\prime$ site to ${>}2750$ nM and shows that the interaction of IHF with the TTG sequence is very specific. By combining the genetic data of these studies with the structural data of the IHF-H$\sp\prime$ site cocrystal the specificity can be explained as a combination of direct and indirect readout of sequence information. Mutants that remove the glutamic acid 44 of the $\beta$-subunit restore wild-type levels of IHF binding to an H$\sp\prime$ site containing a TAG element. These mutants still bind the wild-type TTG-containing H$\sp\prime$ site efficiently. However, these mutants do not allow IHF to recognize other mutant variants of the H$\sp\prime$ site. Substitution with a variety of amino acid sidechains demonstrates that both oxygens of the glutamic acid sidechain are required for full discrimination against the TAG variant. In the cocrystal, the oxygens of the glutamic acid make bonds with two flanking arginines but do not contact the DNA. These results also demonstrate that IHF can distinguish between a T:A and A:T basepair through interactions in the minor groove.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
