The Zα domain of ADARp150 is critical for proper Z-RNA substrate binding and is a key factor in the type-I interferon response pathway. Two point-mutations in this domain (N173S and P193A), which cause neurodegenerative disorders, are linked to decreased A-to-I editing in disease models. To understand this phenomenon at the molecular level, we biophysically and structurally characterized these two mutated domains, revealing that they bind Z-RNA with a decreased affinity. Less efficient binding to Z-RNA can be explained by structural changes in beta-wing, part of the Z-RNA-protein interface, and alteration of conformational dynamics of the proteins.
Keywords: ADAR1; Aicardi-Goutières syndrome; Biophysics; RNA recognition; Z-RNA.
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