Abstract:

<p>Pho7 is the fission yeast ZnCys transcriptional factor that drives a response to phosphate starvation in which phosphate acquisition genes are upregulated. Here we report a crystal structure at 1.6 Å resolution of the Pho7 DNA-binding domain (DBD) bound at its target site 2 in the promoter (5&#39;-TCGGAAATTAAAAA). Comparison to the previously reported structure of Pho7 DBD in complex with its binding site in the promoter (5&#39;-TCGGACATTCAAAT) reveals shared determinants of target site specificity as well as variations in the protein-DNA interface that accommodate different promoter DNA sequences. Mutagenesis of Pho7 amino acids at the DNA interface identified nucleobase contacts at the periphery of the footprint that are essential for the induction of expression in response to phosphate starvation and for Pho7 binding to site 1 in the promoter.</p>