DNA‐Induced Entropic Gain Triggers an Allosteric Switch for Biomolecular Condensation of Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1
The molecular logic of how site-specific DNA recognition by a transcription factor (TF) is transduced into macroscopic protein condensation remains a fundamental puzzle in chemical biology. Here, we unveil that the structured DNA-binding domain (DBD) of a TF acts as an entropic switch to regulate the release of the intrinsically disordered region (IDR). Using high-resolution solution NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrate that DNA binding significantly shifts the conformational equilibrium of the DBD toward a highly dynamic state. This conformational shift allosterically triggers the release of the IDR, thereby promoting macroscopic biomolecular condensation via multivalent interactions between the IDR and other molecules. Our findings define a mechanism of entropy-driven allostery, providing a structural and thermodynamic basis for how DNA-encoded information is transduced into macroscopic phase behavior.
Institutions
- Hokkaido University of Science (JP)
- Hokkaido University (JP)
- Tokushima University (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Published
- 2026-05-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.7340537
- Primary Topic
- Heat shock proteins research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Naito Foundation
- Takeda Science Foundation
- Asahi Glass Foundation
- Mochida Memorial Foundation for Medical and Pharmaceutical Research
- Astellas Foundation for Research on Metabolic Disorders
- JKA Foundation
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science