Biology subjects

Rambo, R. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Rambo, R. P..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Structural basis for the coiled-coil architecture of human CtIP

The DNA repair factor CtIP has a critical function in Double-Strand Break (DSB) repair by Homologous Recombination, promoting the assembly of the repair apparatus at DNA ends and participating in DNA-end resection. However, the molecular mechanisms of CtIP function in DSB repair remain unclear. Here we present an atomic model for the three-dimensional architecture of human CtIP, derived from a multi-disciplinary approach that includes X-ray crystallography, Small-angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Diffracted X-ray Tracking (DXT). Our data show that CtIP adopts an extended dimer-of-dimers structure, in agreement with a role in bridging distant sites on chromosomal DNA during recombinational repair. The zinc-binding motif in CtIPs N-terminus alters dynamically the coiled coil structure, with functional implications for the long-range interactions of CtIP with DNA. Our results provide a structural basis for the three-dimensional arrangement of chains in the CtIP tetramer, a key aspect of CtIP function in DNA DSB repair.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2020

Controlling protein nanocage assembly with hydrostatic pressure

Controlling the assembly and disassembly of nanoscale protein cages for the capture and internalisation of protein or non-proteinaceous components is fundamentally important to a diverse range of bionanotechnological applications. Here, we study the reversible, pressure-induced dissociation of a natural protein nanocage, E. coli bacterioferritin (Bfr), using synchrotron radiation small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and circular dichroism (CD). We demonstrate that hydrostatic pressures of 450 MPa are sufficient to completely dissociate the Bfr icositetramer into protein dimers, and the reversibility and kinetics of the reassembly process can be controlled by selecting appropriate buffer conditions. We also demonstrate that the heme B prosthetic group present at the subunit dimer interface influences the stability and pressure lability of the cage, despite its location being discrete from the inter-dimer interface that is key to cage assembly. This indicates a major cage-stabilising role for heme within this family of ferritins.

biophysics↗