NMR studies of DNA recognition sequences and their interaction with proteins. The phage lambda OR1 operator, a symmetric lac operator and their specific complexes with cro protein and lac repressor "headpiece".

The phage lambda operator OR1 and a 18 base pair symmetric lac operator have been studied by high resolution NMR. The imino proton resonances and the resonances of the unexchangeable protons (except the 5' and 5" sugar proton resonances) have been assigned by one- and two-dimensional NOE techniques. The imino proton resonances of OR1 and the symmetric lac operator have been used to monitor changes induced in the operator structure by the formation of a specific complex with the phage lambda cro protein and with the lac repressor N-terminal DNA binding domain ("headpiece"). Two regions within the OR1 sequence could be identified, where changes in the imino proton resonance positions occur: The central part around base pairs CG 9 and 10 and the region around base pairs AT 5 and CG 5. The TA base pair 6 is the only position in the symmetric lac operator, where the complex formation with headpiece induces a change.