PMID: 16530044

Authors:

Nam Y, Sliz P, Song L, Aster JC, Blacklow SC

Title:

Structural basis for cooperativity in recruitment of MAML coactivators to Notch transcription complexes.

Journal:

Cell. 2006 Mar 10;124(5):973-83.

Abstract:

Notch receptors transduce essential developmental signals between neighboring cells by forming a complex that leads to transcription of target genes upon activation. We report here the crystal structure of a Notch transcriptional activation complex containing the ankyrin domain of human Notch1 (ANK), the transcription factor CSL on cognate DNA, and a polypeptide from the coactivator Mastermind-like-1 (MAML-1). Together, CSL and ANK create a groove to bind the MAML-1 polypeptide as a kinked, 70 A helix. The composite binding surface likely restricts the recruitment of MAML proteins to promoters on which Notch:CSL complexes have been preassembled, ensuring tight transcriptional control of Notch target genes.