Structure of IRF-1 with bound DNA reveals determinants of interferon regulation

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Abstract
The family of interferon regulatory factor (IRF) transcription factors is important in the regulation of interferons in response to infection by virus and in the regulation of interferon-inducible genes1,2. The IRF family is characterized by a unique ‘tryptophan cluster’ DNA-binding region. Here we report the crystal structure of the IRF-1 region bound to the natural positive regulatory domain I (PRD I) DNA element from the interferon-β promoter1. The structure provides the first three-dimensional view of a member of the growing IRF family, revealing a new helix–turn–helix motif that latches onto DNA through three of the five conserved tryptophans. The motif selects a short GAAA core sequence through an obliquely angled recognition helix, with an accompanying bending of the DNA axis in the direction of the protein. Together, these features suggest a basis for the occurrence of GAAA repeats within IRF response elements and provide clues to the assembly of the higher-order interferon-β enhancesome.

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