PDBsum entry 3fyh

Recombination

PDB id: 3fyh

Contents

Protein chain

296 a.a.

Ligands

ADP

Metals

__W ×24

_MG ×2

_NA

Waters ×123

References listed in PDB file

Key reference

• Title: Crystal structure of an archaeal rad51 homologue in complex with a metatungstate inhibitor.
• Authors: Y.Li, Y.He, Y.Luo.
• Ref.: Biochemistry, 2009, 48, 6805-6810.
• PubMed id: 19555119

Abstract

Archaeal RadAs are close homologues of eukaryal Rad51s ( approximately 40% sequence identities). These recombinases promote a hallmark strand exchange process between homologous single-stranded and double-stranded DNA substrates. This DNA-repairing function also plays a key role in cancer cells' resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Inhibition of the strand exchange process may render cancer cells more susceptible to therapeutic treatment. We found that metatungstate is a potent inhibitor of RadA from Methanococcus voltae. The tungsten cluster binds RadA in the axial DNA-binding groove. This polyanionic species appears to inhibit RadA by locking the protein in its inactive conformation.