The BRCT (BRCA1 C-terminus) is an evolutionary conserved protein±protein interacting module found as single, tandem or multiple repeats in a diverse range of proteins known to play roles in the DNAdamage response. The BRCT domains of 53BP1 bind to the tumour suppressor p53. To investigate the nature of this interaction, we have determined the crystal structure of the 53BP1 BRCT tandem repeat in complex with the DNA-binding domain of p53. The structure of the 53BP1±p53 complex shows that the BRCT tandem repeats pack together through a conserved interface that also involves the inter-domain linker. A comparison of the structure of the BRCT region of 53BP1 with the BRCA1 BRCT tandem repeat reveals that the interdomain interface and linker regions are remarkably well conserved. 53BP1 binds to p53 through contacts with the N-terminal BRCT repeat and the inter-BRCT linker. The p53 residues involved in this binding are mutated in cancer and are also important for DNA binding. We propose that BRCT domains bind to cellular target proteins through a conserved structural element termed the`BRCT recognition motif'.

A complex of the DNA-binding domain of the tumour suppressor p53 bound to the BRCT domains of the p53-binding protein (53BP1) has been prepared and purified. Single crystals have been obtained using the microbatch technique with polyethylene glycol 4 kDa and ammonium sulfate. Crystals diffract X-rays to beyond 2.3 A and belong to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Several complete data sets have been collected from a number of crystals, each with different unit-cell parameters. Partial structures have been produced by successful placement of two copies of the p53 core region into the asymmetric unit. There is clear evidence for the binding protein and a complete structure determination is under way.

Objective: Cerebellar development involves a spurt of proliferation in external granule layer (EGL) in response to shh, causing granule neuron precursors (GNPs) to proliferate. These cells subsequently differentiate into granule neurons in the inner granule layer (IGL). F3, a CNTN family molecule, can interact with NrCAM to switch GNPs from proliferation to differentiation. We aim to identify the role of NrCAM in the sonic hedgehog response in GNPs. \ud \ud Methods: GNPs were extracted from wildtype and NrCAM mutant P5 cerebella using Percoll gradient centrifugation. Proliferation response to shh was measured using EdU in presence/absence of F3-Fc. GNPs treated with shh/SAG were stained with antibodies against Arl13b and smo to look for differences in cilia size and smo occupancy after different treatment times. \ud \ud Results: NrCAM-/- and wildtype GNPs both proliferated equally in response to shh. F3 was found to block the proliferation response in wildtype but not in NrCAM-/- GNPs. F3 also failed to affect proliferation in SmoA1 GNPs with a constitutively active smo suggesting that the F3-NrCAM mediated block lay upstream of Smo. NrCAM was detected in wildtype cilia and Smo localization was affected in NrCAM-/- GNPs. No differences in cilia length were observed. \ud \ud Conclusion: Our results suggest that NrCAM affects shh-mediated proliferation by controlling smo movement into the cilium