Structure of the tripartite motif of KAP1/TRIM28 identifies molecular interfaces required for transcriptional silencing of retrotransposons

Transcription of transposable elements is tightly regulated to prevent damage to the genome. The family of KRAB domain-containing zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) and KRAB-associated protein 1 (KAP1/TRIM28) play a key role in regulating retrotransposons. KRAB-ZFPs recognize specific retrotransposon sequences and recruit KAP1, which controls the assembly of an epigenetic silencing complex including histone H3K9 methyltransferase SETDB1. The chromatin remodeling activities of this complex repress transcription of the targeted transposable element and any adjacent genes. Here, we use biophysical and structural approaches to show that the tripartite motif (TRIM) of KAP1 forms antiparallel dimers, which further assemble into tetramers and higher-order oligomers in a concentration-dependent manner. Structure-based mutations in the B-box 1 domain prevented higher-order oligomerization without a significant loss of retrotransposon silencing activity in a cell-based assay, indicating that, in contrast to other TRIM family members, self-assembly is not essential for the function of KAP1. The crystal structure of the KAP1 RBCC dimer identifies the KRAB domain binding site, in the coiled-coil domain near the dyad. Mutations at this site abolished KRAB binding and transcriptional silencing activity of KAP1. This work identifies the interaction interfaces in the KAP1 RBCC motif responsible for self-association and KRAB binding and establishes their role in retrotransposon silencing.