Protein−protein interactions often rely on specialized recognition domains, such as WW domains, which bind to specific proline-rich sequences. The specificity of these protein−protein interactions can be increased by tandem repeats, i.e., two WW domains connected by a linker. With a flexible linker, the WW domains can move freely with respect to each other. Additionally, the tandem WW domains can bind in two different orientations to their target sequences. This makes the elucidation of complex structures of tandem WW domains extremely challenging. Here, we identify and characterize two complex structures of the tandem WW domain of human forminbinding protein 21 and a peptide sequence from its natural binding partner, the core-splicing protein SmB/B′. The two structures differ in the ligand orientation and, consequently, also in the relative orientation of the two WW domains. We analyze and probe the interactions in the complexes by molecular simulations and NMR experiments. The workflow to identify the complex structures uses molecular simulations, density-based clustering, and peptide docking. It is designed to systematically generate possible complex structures for repeats of recognition domains. These structures will help us to understand the synergistic and multivalency effects that generate the astonishing versatility and specificity of protein−protein interactions.

Protein-protein interactions often rely on specialized recognition domains, such as WW domains, which bind to specific proline-rich sequences. The specificity of these protein-protein interactions can be increased by tandem repeats, i.e. two WW domains connected by a linker. With a flexible linker, the WW domains can move freely with respect to each other. Additionally, the tandem WW domains can bind in two different orientations to their target sequences. This makes the elucidation of complex structures of tandem WW domains extremely challenging. Here, we identify and characterize two complex structures of the tandem WW domain of human formin-binding protein 21 and a peptide sequence from its natural binding partner, the core-splicing protein SmB/B’. The two structures differ in the ligand orientation, and consequently also in the relative orientation of the two WW domains. We analyze and probe the interactions in the complexes by molecular simulations and NMR experiments. The workflow to identify the complex structures uses molecular simulations, density-based clustering and peptide docking. It is designed to systematically generate possible complex structures for repeats of recognition domains. These stuctures will help us to understand the synergistic and multivalency effects that generate the astonishing versatility and specificity of protein-protein interactions.

Many bacteriophages modulate the host transcription machinery for efficient expression of their own genomes. Phage P4 polarity suppression protein, Psu, is a building block of the viral capsid and inhibits the hexameric transcription termination factor, rho by presently unknown mechanisms. We elucidated cryogenic electron microscopy structures of rho-Psu complexes, showing that Psu dimers laterally clamp two inactive, open rho rings and promote their expansion to higher-oligomeric states. Systematic ATPase, nucleotide binding and nucleic acid binding studies revealed that Psu hinders rho ring closure and traps nucleotides in their binding pockets on rho. Structure-guided mutagenesis in combination with growth, pull-down and termination assays further delineated the functional rho-Psu interfaces. Bioinformatic analyses suggested that, in addition to guarding its own genome against rho, Psu enables expression of diverse phage-defense systems commonly found in P4-like mobile genetic elements across bacteria. Thus, Psu is a widespread gene regulator that inhibits rho via forced hyper-oligomerization.

Escherichia coli RfaH abrogates Rho‐mediated polarity in lipopolysaccharide core biosynthesis operons, and ΔrfaH cells are hypersensitive to antibiotics, bile salts, and detergents. Selection for rfaH suppressors that restore growth on SDS identified a temperature‐sensitive mutant in which 46 C‐terminal residues of the RNA polymerase (RNAP) β’ subunit are replaced with 23 residues carrying a net positive charge. Based on similarity to rpoC397, which confers a temperature‐sensitive phenotype and resistance to bacteriophages, we named this mutant rpoC397*. We show that SDS resistance depends on a single nonpolar residue within the C397* tail, whereas basic residues are dispensable. In line with its mimicry of RfaH, C397* RNAP is resistant to Rho but responds to pause signals, NusA, and NusG in vitro similarly to the wild‐type enzyme and binds to Rho and Nus factors in vivo. Strikingly, the deletion of rpoZ, which encodes the ω “chaperone” subunit, restores rpoC397* growth at 42°C but has no effect on SDS sensitivity. Our results suggest that the C397* tail traps the ω subunit in an inhibitory state through direct contacts and hinders Rho‐dependent termination through long‐range interactions. We propose that the dynamic and hypervariable β’•ω module controls RNA synthesis in response to niche‐specific signals.