High DNA melting activity of extremophyte Eutrema salsugineum cold shock domain proteins EsCSDP1 and EsCSDP3

• EsCSDP1 and EsCSDP3 proteins possess high DNA-melting activity.
• High DNA-melting activity is determined by cooperative action of N-terminal and C-terminal regions of protein molecule.
• Interaction with single-stranded DNA regions is required for melting activity manifestation.

Plant cold shock domain proteins (CSDP) participate in maintenance of plant stress tolerance and in regulating their development. In the present paper we show that two out of three extremophyte plant Eutrema salsugineum proteins EsCSDP1-3, namely EsCSDP1 and EsCSDP3, possess high DNA-melting activity. DNA-melting activity of proteins was evaluated using molecular beacon assay in two ways: by measuring Tm parameter (the temperature at which half of the DNA beacon molecules is fully melted) and the beacon fluorescence at 4 °C. As the ratio protein/beacon was increased, a decrease in Tm was observed. Besides DNA-melting activity of full proteins, activity was measured for three isolated cold shock domains EsCSD1-3, C-terminal domain of EsCSDP1 (EsZnF1), as well as a mixture of EsCSD1 and EsZnF1. The Tm reduction efficiency of proteins formed the following sequence: EsCSDP3≈EsCSDP1>(EsCSD1+EsZnF1)>EsZnF1>EsCSDP2. Only full proteins EsCSDP3 and EsCSDP1 demonstrated DNA-melting activity at 4 °C. The presented experimental data indicate that i: interaction of EsCSDP1-3 with beacon single-stranded region is obligatory for efficient melting; ii: cold shock domain and C-terminal domain with zinc finger motifs should be present in one protein molecule to have high melting activity.