Figure 1 - full size

Figure 1.
Figure 1. a, Ribbon representation of the EcoRV dimer showing the dimerization domain at bottom (orange), the DNA-binding/catalytic domains in yellow and the four flexible linkers I−IV in each subunit^13. The major-groove binding R-loops (red, residues 182−188 of each subunit) present all of the primary determinants for direct readout of base-pair functional groups in the GATATC target. The scissile phosphorus atoms are shown by the pink spheres. The Gln-rich Q-loops that bind in the minor groove are shown in blue. b, View of the bent DNA conformation as seen in the complex of EcoRV with specific DNA^13. The center TA step and the R-loops are drawn in purple and blue, respectively. Van der Waals contacts of the Thr 186 side-chain methyl groups (red) with functional groups in the major groove are shown. c, Hydrogen-bonding (dotted lines) and van der Waals/electrostatic contacts (hatched lines) at the center TA step in the wild-type EcoRV−DNA complex. Distances in Å between nonhydrogen atoms are from the ternary complex structure with Ca^2+ (ref. 15). The contacts between Thr 186 and the thymine O4/adenine N6 groups may contribute binding energy but are considered to be nonspecific. The Watson−Crick hydrogen bonds are designated WC. The distance between the Thr 186 and Thr 186' methyl groups from the two separate subunits is 4.2 Å.