FIGURE 5-5 Interaction with a protein can bend DNA. The conserved C-terminal domain of the TATA box–binding protein (TBP) binds to the minor groove of specific DNA sequences rich in A and T, untwisting and sharply bending the double helix. Transcription of most eukaryotic genes requires participation of TBP.

[Data from D. B. Nikolov and S. K. Burley, 1997, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:15, PDB ID 1cdw.]