Solution conformation of an essential region of the p53 transactivation domain

Background: The peptide segment surrounding residues Leu22 and Trp23 of the p53 transactivation domain plays a critical role in the transactivation activity of p53. This region binds basal transcriptional components such as the TATA-box binding protein associated factors TAF(parallel to)40 and TAF(parallel to)60 as well as the mdm-2 and adenovirus type 5E1B55 kDa oncoproteins. Results: The structure of residues 14-28 of p53 was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and found to prefer a two-beta-turn structure stabilized by a hydrophobic cluster consisting of residues known to be important for transactivation and binding to p53-binding proteins. A peptide segment in which Leu22 and Trp23 were replaced by Gin and Ser displays a random structure. Conclusions: This structural propensity observed in the wild-type p53 peptide is important for understanding the mechanism of transcriptional activation, because very few structural data are available on transactivation domains to date. These results should aid in the design of therapeutics that could competitively inhibit binding of p53 to the oncogene product mdm-2.