DNA can change receptor protein structure and function

Over the years, scientists believe that DNA (deoxyuraotosacuucleic acid) is only a passive template, producing specific proteins through RNA (ribonucleic acid) transcription. According to a report from the US Physics Practitioner Organization Network on April 11, a scientist research at the Squares Institute of Florida found that DNA can also make a fine -tuning effect on the activity of nuclear protein. The research was published in the magazine of “Nature -Structure and Molecular Biology” published on April 10.

In this new study, scientists measured the complex interaction between vitamin D receptors (a nuclear protein) and various ligands using hydrogen -hydrogen switching mass spectrometry. Hydrogen -hydrogen exchanging mass spectrometry is a high -precision, high -sensitivity imaging technology. Because protein is a three -dimensional structure, the hydrogen on the protein surface will be exchanged with the hydrogen on the heavy water before its unsigned. Then use a mass spectrum to measure the molecular weight. The changes in the molecular weight can know how much hydrogen is exchanged by the protein surface. This method can be used to determine whether the protein conformity changes in two different states. When the ligand interacts with protein, this method can also be used to detect changes in the protein structure and some specific interactions. The ligand can be a small synthetic compound or hormone, protein or DNA. The combination of ligands and proteins can change the characteristics of these molecules. In this study, the ligand is the metabolites of vitamin D, vitamin A, DNA, and activating protein SRC1 (steroid receptor covario activation factor 1).

Scientists have found that DNA can change the structure and function of receptor protein. The binding site of the DNA can not only change the stability of the receptor protein binding site, but also change the surface reaction on the opposite side of the protein binding site. These changes will affect key processes such as the modification of the DNA -binding site and the specific DNA sequence of receptor protein recognition.

Dr. Patrick Griffin, the person in charge of the study, said that this is the first time that people have obtained direct evidence about the interaction of receptor ligands. Effective drugs, treat osteoporosis, obesity, autoimmune diseases and cancer diseases.