SNAP output for PDB entry 5y58 [SNAP web server]

PDB-id

5y58; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB

Class

RNA binding protein

Method

X-ray (2.8 Å)

Summary

Crystal structure of ku70-80 and tlc1

Reference

Chen H, Xue J, Churikov D, Hass EP, Shi S, Lemon LD, Luciano P, Bertuch AA, Zappulla DC, Geli V, Wu J, Lei M (2018): "Structural Insights into Yeast Telomerase Recruitment to Telomeres." Cell, 172, 331-343.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.12.008.

Abstract

Telomerase maintains chromosome ends from humans to yeasts. Recruitment of yeast telomerase to telomeres occurs through its Ku and Est1 subunits via independent interactions with telomerase RNA (TLC1) and telomeric proteins Sir4 and Cdc13, respectively. However, the structures of the molecules comprising these telomerase-recruiting pathways remain unknown. Here, we report crystal structures of the Ku heterodimer and Est1 complexed with their key binding partners. Two major findings are as follows: (1) Ku specifically binds to telomerase RNA in a distinct, yet related, manner to how it binds DNA; and (2) Est1 employs two separate pockets to bind distinct motifs of Cdc13. The N-terminal Cdc13-binding site of Est1 cooperates with the TLC1-Ku-Sir4 pathway for telomerase recruitment, whereas the C-terminal interface is dispensable for binding Est1 in vitro yet is nevertheless essential for telomere maintenance in vivo. Overall, our results integrate previous models and provide fundamentally valuable structural information regarding telomere biology.