Protein-DNA interaction

The lambda repressor protein interacting with the lambda operator DNA.

Protein–DNA interactions are when a protein binds a molecule of DNA, often to regulate the biological function of DNA, usually the expression of a gene. Among the proteins that bind to DNA are transcription factors that activate or repress gene expression by binding to DNA motifs and histones that form part of the structure of DNA and bind to it less specifically.

In general, proteins bind to DNA in the major groove, however there are exceptions.^[1]

See also

• Chromatin immunoprecipitation
• DNA-binding protein
• Protein-protein interaction

References

1. ^ Bewley CA, Gronenborn AM, Clore GM (1998). "Minor groove-binding architectural proteins: structure, function, and DNA recognition". Annu Rev Biophys Biomol Struct 27: 105–31. doi:10.1146/annurev.biophys.27.1.105. PMID 9646864.