Abstract
Eleven protein-DNA crystal structures were analyzed to test the hypothesis that hydration sites predicted in the first hydration shell of DNA mark the positions where protein residues hydrogen-bond to DNA. For nine of those structures, protein atoms, which form hydrogen bonds to DNA bases, were found within 1.5
Å of the predicted hydration positions in 86% of the interactions. The correspondence of the predicted hydration sites with the hydrogen-bonded protein side chains was significantly higher for bases inside the conserved DNA recognition sequences than outside those regions. In two CAP-DNA complexes, predicted base hydration sites correctly marked 71% (within 1.5
Å) of protein atoms, which form hydrogen bonds to DNA bases. Phosphate hydration was compared to actual protein binding sites in one CAP-DNA complex with 78% marked contacts within 2.0
Å. These data suggest that hydration sites mark the binding sites at protein-DNA interfaces.