Crystallographic studies of a novel DNA-binding domain from the yeast transcriptional activator Ndt80.

The Ndt80 protein is a transcriptional activator that plays a key role in the progression of the meiotic divisions in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ndt80 is strongly induced during the middle stages of the sporulation pathway and binds specifically to a promoter element called the MSE to activate transcription of genes required for the meiotic divisions. Here, the preliminary structural and functional studies to characterize the DNA-binding activity of this protein are reported. Through deletion analysis and limited proteolysis studies of Ndt80, a novel 32 kDa DNA-binding domain that is sufficient for DNA-binding in vitro has been defined. Crystals of the DNA-binding domain of Ndt80 in two distinct lattices have been obtained, for which diffraction data extend to 2.3 A resolution.