Summary information and primary citation

PDB-id
1kc6; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB
Class
hydrolase-DNA
Method
X-ray (2.6 Å)
Summary
Hincii bound to cognate DNA
Reference
Horton NC, Dorner LF, Perona JJ (2002): "Sequence selectivity and degeneracy of a restriction endonuclease mediated by DNA intercalation." Nat.Struct.Biol., 9, 42-47. doi: 10.1038/nsb741.
Abstract
The crystal structure of the HincII restriction endonuclease-DNA complex shows that degenerate specificity for blunt-ended cleavage at GTPyPuAC sequences arises from indirect readout of conformational preferences at the center pyrimidine-purine step. Protein-induced distortion of the DNA is accomplished by intercalation of glutamine side chains into the major groove on either side of the recognition site, generating bending by either tilt or roll at three distinct loci. The intercalated side chains propagate a concerted shift of all six target-site base pairs toward the minor groove, producing an unusual cross-strand purine stacking at the center pyrimidine-purine step. Comparison of the HincII and EcoRV cocrystal structures suggests that sequence-dependent differences in base-stacking free energies are a crucial underlying factor mediating protein recognition by indirect readout.

Cartoon-block schematics in six views (download the tarball)

PyMOL session file Download PDB file View in 3Dmol.js