Abstract: The present invention provides three-dimensional structural information from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus which is a histone deacetylase-like protein (HDLP). HDLP shares 35.2% amino acid sequence identity with human histone deacetylase (HDAC1). The present invention further provides three-dimensional structural information of HDLP bound by inhibitor molecules. The three-dimensional structural information of the present invention is useful to design, isolate and screen deacetylase inhibitor compounds capable of inhibiting HDLP, HDAC family members and HDLP-related molecules. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding a mutant HDLP which facilitates the determination of the three-dimensional structure of HDLP in the presence of a zinc atom.

Abstract: The present invention provides three-dimensional structural information from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus which is a histone deacetylase-like protein (HDLP). HDLP shares 35.2% amino acid sequence identity with human histone deacetylase (HDAC1). The present invention further provides three-dimensional structural information of HDLP bound by inhibitor molecules. The three-dimensional structural information of the present invention is useful to design, isolate and screen deacetylase inhibitor compounds capable of inhibiting HDLP, HDAC family members and HDLP-related molecules. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding a mutant HDLP which facilitates the determination of the three-dimensional structure of HDLP in the presence of a zinc atom.

Abstract: The present invention provides three-dimensional structural information from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus which is a histone deacetylase-like protein (HDLP). HDLP shares 35.2% amino acid sequence identity with human histone deacetylase (HDAC1). The present invention further provides three-dimensional structural information of HDLP bound by inhibitor molecules. The three-dimensional structural information of the present invention is useful to design, isolate and screen deacetylase inhibitor compounds capable of inhibiting HDLP, HDAC family members and HDLP-related molecules. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding a mutant HDLP which facilitates the determination of the three-dimensional structure of HDLP in the presence of a zinc atom.

Abstract: Signal transduction by the TGF-&bgr; family involves sets of receptor serine/threonine kinases, Smad proteins that act as receptor substrates, and Smad-associated transcription factors that target specific genes. Discrete structural elements were identified that dictate the selective interactions between receptors and Smads and between Smads and transcription factors in the TGF-&bgr; and BMP pathways. A cluster of four residues in the L45 loop of the type I receptor kinase domain, and a matching set of two residues in the L3 loop of the Smad C-terminal domain establish the specificity of receptor-Smad interactions. A cluster of residues in the highly exposed &agr;-helix 2 of the Smad C-terminal domain specify the interaction with the DNA-binding factor Fast1 and, as a result, the gene responses mediated by the pathway. By establishing specific interactions, these determinants keep the TGF-&bgr; and BMP pathways segregated from each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides three-dimensional structural information from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus which is a histone deacetylase-like protein (HDLP). HDLP shares 35.2% amino acid sequence identity with human histone deacetylase (HDAC1). The present invention further provides three-dimensional structural information of HDLP bound by inhibitor molecules. The three-dimensional structural information of the present invention is useful to design, isolate and screen deacetylase inhibitor compounds capable of inhibiting HDLP, HDAC family members and HDLP-related molecules. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding a mutant HDLP which facilitates the determination of the three-dimensional structure of HDLP in the presence of a zinc atom.