A designed DNA binding motif that recognizes extended sites and spans two adjacent major grooves

Chem Sci. 2016 May 1;7(5):3298-3303. doi: 10.1039/C6SC00045B. Epub 2016 Feb 5.

Abstract

We report the rational design of a DNA-binding peptide construct composed of the DNA-contacting regions of two transcription factors (GCN4 and GAGA) linked through an AT-hook DNA anchor. The resulting chimera, which represents a new, non-natural DNA binding motif, binds with high affinity and selectivity to a long composite sequence of 13 base pairs (TCAT-AATT-GAGAG).