PDBsum entry 5elh

RNA binding protein/RNA

PDB id: 5elh

Contents

Protein chains

142 a.a.

DNA/RNA

Ligands

SO4 ×4

Metals

_ZN ×6

Waters ×307

References listed in PDB file

Key reference

• Title: Recognition of distinct RNA motifs by the clustered ccch zinc fingers of neuronal protein unkempt.
• Authors: J.Murn, M.Teplova, K.Zarnack, Y.Shi, D.J.Patel.
• Ref.: Nat Struct Biol, 2016, 23, 16-23. [DOI no: 10.1038/nsmb.3140]
• PubMed id: 26641712

Abstract

Unkempt is an evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding protein that regulates translation of its target genes and is required for the establishment of the early bipolar neuronal morphology. Here we determined the X-ray crystal structure of mouse Unkempt and show that its six CCCH zinc fingers (ZnFs) form two compact clusters, ZnF1-3 and ZnF4-6, that recognize distinct trinucleotide RNA substrates. Both ZnF clusters adopt a similar overall topology and use distinct recognition principles to target specific RNA sequences. Structure-guided point mutations reduce the RNA binding affinity of Unkempt both in vitro and in vivo, ablate Unkempt's translational control and impair the ability of Unkempt to induce a bipolar cellular morphology. Our study unravels a new mode of RNA sequence recognition by clusters of CCCH ZnFs that is critical for post-transcriptional control of neuronal morphology.