Summary information and primary citation

PDB-id
5x0y; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB
Class
structural protein-hydrolase-DNA
Method
cryo-EM (4.69 Å)
Summary
Complex of snf2-nucleosome complex with snf2 bound to shl2 of the nucleosome
Reference
Liu X, Li M, Xia X, Li X, Chen Z (2017): "Mechanism of chromatin remodelling revealed by the Snf2-nucleosome structure." Nature, 544, 440-445. doi: 10.1038/nature22036.
Abstract
Chromatin remodellers are helicase-like, ATP-dependent enzymes that alter chromatin structure and nucleosome positions to allow regulatory proteins access to DNA. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of chromatin remodeller Switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI2/SNF2) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae bound to the nucleosome. The structure shows that the two core domains of Snf2 are realigned upon nucleosome binding, suggesting activation of the enzyme. The core domains contact each other through two induced Brace helices, which are crucial for coupling ATP hydrolysis to chromatin remodelling. Snf2 binds to the phosphate backbones of one DNA gyre of the nucleosome mainly through its helicase motifs within the major domain cleft, suggesting a conserved mechanism of substrate engagement across different remodellers. Snf2 contacts the second DNA gyre via a positively charged surface, providing a mechanism to anchor the remodeller at a fixed position of the nucleosome. Snf2 locally deforms nucleosomal DNA at the site of binding, priming the substrate for the remodelling reaction. Together, these findings provide mechanistic insights into chromatin remodelling.

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