Structure of the putative DNA-binding protein SP_1288 from Streptococcus pyogenes

The crystal structure of the putative DNA-binding protein SP_1288 (gi|15675166, also listed as gi|28895954) from Streptococcus pyogenes has been determined by X-ray crystallography to a resolution of 2.3 Å using anomalous diffraction data at the Se peak wavelength. SP_1288 belongs to a family of proteins whose cellular function is associated with the signal recognition particle; no structural information has been available until now about the members of the family. Crystallographic analysis revealed that the overall fold of SP_1288 consists exclusively of α-helices and that 75% of the structure has good similarity to domain 4 of the σ subunit of RNA polymerase. This suggests its possible involvement in the biochemical function of transcription initiation, which includes interaction with DNA.