Structural basis of human Mediator recruitment by the phosphorylated transcription factor Elk-1

One function of Mediator complex subunit MED23 is to mediate transcriptional activation by the phosphorylated transcription factor Elk-1, in response to the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, we solve a 3.0 Å structure of human MED23 complexed with the phosphorylated activation domain of Elk-1. Elk-1 binds to MED23 via a hydrophobic sequence PSIHFWSTLSPP containing one phosphorylated residue (S383p), which forms a tight turn around the central Phenylalanine. Binding of Elk-1 induces allosteric changes in MED23 that propagate to the opposite face of the subunit, resulting in the dynamic behavior of a 19-residue segment, which alters the molecular surface of MED23. We design a specific MED23 mutation (G382F) that disrupts Elk--1 binding and consequently impairs Elk-1-dependent serum-induced activation of target genes in the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. The structure provides molecular details and insights into a Mediator subunit-transcription factor interface.