The FOXP2 forkhead domain binds to a variety of DNA sequences with different rates and affinities.

FOXP2 is a member of the P subfamily of FOX transcription factors, the DNA-binding domain of which is the winged helix forkhead domain (FHD). In this work we show that the FOXP2 FHD is able to bind to various DNA sequences, including a novel sequence identified in this work, with different affinities and rates as detected using surface plasmon resonance. Combining the experimental work with molecular docking, we show that high-affinity sequences remain bound to the protein for longer, form a greater number of interactions with the protein and induce a greater structural change in the protein than low-affinity sequences. We propose a binding model for the FOXP2 FHD that involves three types of binding sequence: low affinity sites which allow for rapid scanning of the genome by the protein in a partially unstructured state; moderate affinity sites which serve to locate the protein near target sites and high-affinity sites which secure the protein to the DNA and induce a conformational change necessary for functional binding and the possible initiation of downstream transcriptional events. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Japanese Biochemical Society. All rights reserved.

Citation

Helen Webb, Olga Steeb, Ashleigh Blane, Lia Rotherham, Shaun Aron, Philip Machanick, Heini Dirr, Sylvia Fanucchi. The FOXP2 forkhead domain binds to a variety of DNA sequences with different rates and affinities. Journal of biochemistry. 2017 Jul 01;162(1):45-54

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PMID: 28104810

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