scholarly journals Functional and conserved domains of the Drosophila transcription factor encoded by the segmentation gene knirps.

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 7899-7908 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Gerwin ◽  
A La Rosée ◽  
F Sauer ◽  
H P Halbritter ◽  
M Neumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Orphan Receptor ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Amino Acid Region

The Drosophila gap gene knirps (kni) is required for abdominal segmentation. It encodes a steroid/thyroid orphan receptor-type transcription factor which is distributed in a broad band of nuclei in the posterior region of the blastoderm. To identify essential domains of the kni protein (KNI), we cloned and sequenced the DNA encompassing the coding region of nine kni mutant alleles of different strength and kni-homologous genes of related insect species. We also examined in vitro-modified versions of KNI in various assay systems both in vitro and in tissue culture. The results show that KNI contains several functional domains which are arranged in a modular fashion. The N-terminal 185-amino-acid region which includes the DNA-binding domain and a functional nuclear location signal fails to provide kni activity to the embryo. However, a truncated KNI protein that contains additional 47 amino acids exerts rather strong kni activity which is functionally defined by a weak kni mutant phenotype of the embryo. The additional 47-amino-acid stretch includes a transcriptional repressor domain which acts in the context of a heterologous DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4. The different domains of KNI as defined by functional studies are conserved during insect evolution.

scholarly journals Functional and conserved domains of the Drosophila transcription factor encoded by the segmentation gene knirps

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 7899-7908
Author(s):  
N Gerwin ◽  
A La Rosée ◽  
F Sauer ◽  
H P Halbritter ◽  
M Neumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Orphan Receptor ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Amino Acid Region

The Drosophila gap gene knirps (kni) is required for abdominal segmentation. It encodes a steroid/thyroid orphan receptor-type transcription factor which is distributed in a broad band of nuclei in the posterior region of the blastoderm. To identify essential domains of the kni protein (KNI), we cloned and sequenced the DNA encompassing the coding region of nine kni mutant alleles of different strength and kni-homologous genes of related insect species. We also examined in vitro-modified versions of KNI in various assay systems both in vitro and in tissue culture. The results show that KNI contains several functional domains which are arranged in a modular fashion. The N-terminal 185-amino-acid region which includes the DNA-binding domain and a functional nuclear location signal fails to provide kni activity to the embryo. However, a truncated KNI protein that contains additional 47 amino acids exerts rather strong kni activity which is functionally defined by a weak kni mutant phenotype of the embryo. The additional 47-amino-acid stretch includes a transcriptional repressor domain which acts in the context of a heterologous DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4. The different domains of KNI as defined by functional studies are conserved during insect evolution.

Methylation of RUNX1 by the Nuclear PRMT5/COPR5 Complex Regulates Its Cellular Location in Leukemia Cells,

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 3403-3403
Author(s):  
Xinyang Zhao ◽  
Ly P. Vu ◽  
Fabiana Perna ◽  
Fan Liu ◽  
Hao Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Sm Proteins ◽  
Differentiation Potential ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Abstract 3403 RUNX1 is a transcription factor that is required for definitive hematopoietic development, and helps regulate long term hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, platelet production, and lymphocyte development during adult hematopoiesis. RUNX1 is known to be modified via phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination and methylation, for example on R208 and R210 by PRMT1, which activates its activating function. We continue to investigate how the methylation of RUNX1 by other protein arginine methyl transferases (PRMTs) regulates its function. Loop 9 of the DNA binding domain (the Runt domain) of RUNX1 contains an SGRGK sequence that is also present on the tails of histone H2A and H4. The histone tails of H4 and H2A can be methylated by a purified PRMT5 complex in vitro. An enzymatically active in vitro PRMT5 complex capable of methylating histones and SM proteins requires two subunits: both PRMT5 and MEP50, a WD 40 repeat domain protein. Nevertheless, this purified PRMT5/MEP50 complex cannot methylate the DNA binding domain of the RUNX1 protein in vitro. We show that RUNX1 also can be symmetrically methylated at R142 within the SGRGK motif in vitro by a nuclear PRMT5/MEP50 complex which also contains COPR5. We show after RUNX1 is methylated on R142 within the nucleus of HEL cells, RUNX1 is exported to the cytoplasm in a CRM1 dependent manner, as the export of methylated RUNX1 is blocked by lemptomycin B. CRM1 interacts with PRMT5, supporting that PRMT5 mediated arginine methylation tags protein for nuclear export. Therefore, PRMT5 not only involves in epigenetic regulation by methylation of histones but also it can directly controls the level of transcription factor proteins within the nucleus. Polycytocemia Vera patients who express the Jak2V617F mutation have low PRMT5 activity due to JAK2V617F mediated PRMT5 phosphorylation (Liu et al 2011). How Jak2 signaling affects RUNX1 methylation and RUNX1 localization within the nucleus is still under investigation. By controlling the amount of RUNX1 available within the cell nucleus, PRMT5 may regulate lineage differentiation potential and growth potential of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The nuclear localization of RUNX1 can be changed through post translational modification such as arginine methylation in addition to point mutations and translocations involving RUNX1 found patients with leukemia and pre-leukemic diseases. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Balance between mutually exclusive traits shifted by variants of a yeast transcription factor

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael W. Dorrity ◽  
Josh T. Cuperus ◽  
Jolie A. Carlisle ◽  
Stanley Fields ◽  
Christine Queitsch
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Half Site

AbstractIn Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the decision to mate or invade relies on environmental cues that converge on a shared transcription factor, Ste12. Specificity toward invasion occurs via Ste12 binding cooperatively with the co-factor Tec1. Here, we characterize the in vitro binding preferences of Ste12 to identify a defined spacing and orientation of dimeric sites, one that is common in pheromone-regulated genes. We find that single amino acid changes in the DNA-binding domain of Ste12 can shift the preference of yeast toward either mating or invasion. These mutations define two distinct regions of this domain, suggesting alternative modes of DNA binding for each trait. Some exceptional Ste12 mutants promote hyperinvasion in a Tec1-independent manner; these fail to bind cooperative sites with Tec1 and bind to unusual dimeric Ste12 sites that contain one highly degenerate half site. We propose a model for how activation of invasion genes could have evolved with Ste12 alone.

scholarly journals The TATA-Binding Protein (TBP) from the Human Fungal PathogenCandida albicans Can Complement Defects in Human and Yeast TBPs

1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (7) ◽  
pp. 1771-1776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Leng ◽  
Philip E. Carter ◽  
Alistair J. P. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Tata Binding Protein ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Dna Binding Domain

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is the major fungal pathogen in humans, yet little is known about transcriptional regulation in this organism. Therefore, we have isolated, characterized, and expressed theC. albicans TATA-binding protein (TBP) gene (TBP1), because this general transcription initiation factor plays a key role in the activation and regulation of eukaryotic promoters. Southern and Northern blot analyses suggest that a single C. albicans TBP1 locus is expressed at similar levels in the yeast and hyphal forms of this fungus. The TBP1 open reading frame is 716 bp long and encodes a functional TBP of 27 kDa. C. albicans TBP is capable of binding specifically to a TATA box in vitro, substituting for the human TBP to activate basal transcription in vitro, and suppressing the lethal Δspt15 mutation inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The predicted amino acid sequences of TBPs from C. albicans and other organisms reveal a striking pattern of C-terminal conservation and N-terminal variability: the C-terminal DNA-binding domain displays at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to TBPs from fungi, flies, nematodes, slime molds, plants, and humans. Sequence differences between human and fungal TPBs in the DNA-binding domain may represent potential targets for antifungal therapy.

Synthesis of an enzymatically active FLP recombinase in vitro: search for a DNA-binding domain

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1987-1995
Author(s):  
A A Amin ◽  
P D Sadowski
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Translation System ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Dna Binding Activity

We have used an in vitro transcription and translation system to synthesize an enzymatically active FLP protein. The FLP mRNA synthesized in vitro by SP6 polymerase is translated efficiently in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate to produce enzymatically active FLP. Using this system, we assessed the effect of deletions and tetrapeptide insertions on the ability of the respective variant proteins synthesized in vitro to bind to the FLP recognition target site and to carry out excisive recombination. Deletions of as few as six amino acids from either the carboxy- or amino-terminal region of FLP resulted in loss of binding activity. Likewise, insertions at amino acid positions 79, 203, and 286 abolished DNA-binding activity. On the other hand, a protein with an insertion at amino acid 364 retained significant DNA-binding activity but had no detectable recombination activity. Also, an insertion at amino acid 115 had no measurable effect on DNA binding, but recombination was reduced by 95%. In addition, an insertion at amino acid 411 had no effect on DNA binding and recombination. On the basis of these results, we conclude that this approach fails to define a discrete DNA-binding domain. The possible reasons for this result are discussed.

scholarly journals Synthesis of an enzymatically active FLP recombinase in vitro: search for a DNA-binding domain.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1987-1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
A A Amin ◽  
P D Sadowski
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Translation System ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Dna Binding Activity

We have used an in vitro transcription and translation system to synthesize an enzymatically active FLP protein. The FLP mRNA synthesized in vitro by SP6 polymerase is translated efficiently in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate to produce enzymatically active FLP. Using this system, we assessed the effect of deletions and tetrapeptide insertions on the ability of the respective variant proteins synthesized in vitro to bind to the FLP recognition target site and to carry out excisive recombination. Deletions of as few as six amino acids from either the carboxy- or amino-terminal region of FLP resulted in loss of binding activity. Likewise, insertions at amino acid positions 79, 203, and 286 abolished DNA-binding activity. On the other hand, a protein with an insertion at amino acid 364 retained significant DNA-binding activity but had no detectable recombination activity. Also, an insertion at amino acid 115 had no measurable effect on DNA binding, but recombination was reduced by 95%. In addition, an insertion at amino acid 411 had no effect on DNA binding and recombination. On the basis of these results, we conclude that this approach fails to define a discrete DNA-binding domain. The possible reasons for this result are discussed.

scholarly journals Structural analysis of the DNA-binding domain of alternatively spliced steroid receptors

2002 ◽  
Vol 173 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Wickert ◽  
J Selbig
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Steroid Receptor ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Receptor Function ◽  
Alternatively Spliced

We have generated 24 DNA-binding domain structure models of alternatively spliced or mutated steroid receptor variants by homology-based modeling. Members of the steroid receptor family dispose of a DNA-binding domain which is built from two zinc fingers with a preserved sequence homology of about 90%. Data from crystallographic analysis of the glucocorticoid receptor DNA-binding domain are therefore appropriate to serve as a template structure. We inserted or deleted amino acid residues in order to study the structural details of the glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and androgen receptor splice variants. The receptor variants are created by QUANTA- and MODELLER-based modeling. Subsequently, the resulting energy-minimized models were compared with each other and with the wild-type receptor respectively. A prediction for the receptor function based mainly on the preservation or destruction of secondary structures has been carried out. The simulations showed that amino acid insertions of one, four or nine additional residues of existing steroid receptor splice variants were tolerated without destruction of the secondary structure. In contrast, a deletion of four amino acids at the splice site junction leads to modifications in the secondary structure of the DNA-recognition helix which apparently disturb the receptor-DNA interaction. Furthermore, an insertion of 23 amino acid residues between the zinc finger of the androgen receptor leads to a large loop with an additional alpha-helical structure which seems to disconnect a specific contact from its hormone response element. Thereafter, the prediction of receptor function based on the molecular models was compared with the available experimental results from the in vitro function tests. We obtained a close correspondence between the molecular modeling-based predictions and the conclusions of receptor function drawn from in vitro studies.

scholarly journals Crystal structure of the DNA binding domain of the transcription factor T-bet suggests simultaneous recognition of distant genome sites

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (43) ◽  
pp. E6572-E6581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ce Feng Liu ◽  
Gabriel S. Brandt ◽  
Quyen Q. Hoang ◽  
Natalia Naumova ◽  
Vanja Lazarevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Quaternary Structure ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Chromosome Conformation

The transcription factor T-bet (Tbox protein expressed in T cells) is one of the master regulators of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. It plays a central role in T-cell lineage commitment, where it controls the TH1 response, and in gene regulation in plasma B-cells and dendritic cells. T-bet is a member of the Tbox family of transcription factors; however, T-bet coordinately regulates the expression of many more genes than other Tbox proteins. A central unresolved question is how T-bet is able to simultaneously recognize distant Tbox binding sites, which may be located thousands of base pairs away. We have determined the crystal structure of the Tbox DNA binding domain (DBD) of T-bet in complex with a palindromic DNA. The structure shows a quaternary structure in which the T-bet dimer has its DNA binding regions splayed far apart, making it impossible for a single dimer to bind both sites of the DNA palindrome. In contrast to most other Tbox proteins, a single T-bet DBD dimer binds simultaneously to identical half-sites on two independent DNA. A fluorescence-based assay confirms that T-bet dimers are able to bring two independent DNA molecules into close juxtaposition. Furthermore, chromosome conformation capture assays confirm that T-bet functions in the direct formation of chromatin loops in vitro and in vivo. The data are consistent with a looping/synapsing model for transcriptional regulation by T-bet in which a single dimer of the transcription factor can recognize and coalesce distinct genetic elements, either a promoter plus a distant regulatory element, or promoters on two different genes.

Genetic variation of the glucocorticoid receptor from a steroid-resistant primate

1991 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. D. Brandon ◽  
A. J. Markwick ◽  
M. Flores ◽  
K. Dixon ◽  
B. D. Albertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Primary Structure ◽  
New World ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Nucleotide Substitutions

ABSTRACT The neotropical cotton-top marmoset (Saguinus oedipus) is a New World primate known to have markedly increased total and free plasma cortisol concentrations when compared with Old World primates including man. The relative end-organ 'resistance' to glucocorticoids found in various New World primates has been attributed to a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with diminished affinity for glucocorticoids. It has been demonstrated that the marmoset GR has approximately tenfold lower binding affinity for dexamethasone when compared with the human GR. We have examined the primary structure of the marmoset GR by molecular cloning and sequencing of GR functional domains. A library of cDNA clones was constructed in the phage vector λgt10 using poly(A)+ RNA from a marmoset-derived lymphoid cell line, and screened using the human GR cDNA. DNA sequencing determined 76 individual nucleotide substitutions in the coding region of the marmoset GR. Comparison of the marmoset GR nucleotide sequence with the human GR cDNA coding region indicated an overall sequence homology of about 97%. Thirty of the nucleotide substitutions lead to alterations in the predicted amino acid sequence (28 amino acid substitutions) of the marmoset GR. The size of the marmoset GR predicted from the 778 amino acids is approximately 90 000 which is in agreement with previous size estimates of the human and marmoset GRs. Alterations of amino acid sequence in the marmoset GR were greatest towards the amino terminus, including the τ1 domain putatively involved in transcriptional activation. The DNA-binding domain contained an additional codon (arginine). Comparison of the DNA-binding domain of the marmoset GR with other members of the steroid receptor superfamily indicates that the additional arginine occurs in the same position as other amino acid insertions within the interfinger region of the human androgen receptor and the erb-A proto-oncogene. There are only four missense substitutions within the steroid-binding domain. Two of these substitutions occur within the transducing site which has been associated with binding of the GR to a 90 kDa heat shock protein. These data suggest that diminished GR affinity for glucocorticoids in the marmoset may be due to alterations in the primary structure of one or more functional domains of the GR gene. In addition, other important regulatory functions, such as transcriptional activation, DNA binding and receptor transduction, may also be affected.

scholarly journals The Yeast Heat Shock Transcription Factor Changes Conformation in Response to Superoxide and Temperature

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1753-1764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sengyong Lee ◽  
Tage Carlson ◽  
Noah Christian ◽  
Kristi Lea ◽  
Jennifer Kedzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Conformational Change ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Heat Shock Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

In vitro DNA-binding assays demonstrate that the heat shock transcription factor (HSF) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can adopt an altered conformation when stressed. This conformation, reflected in a change in electrophoretic mobility, requires that two HSF trimers be bound to DNA. Single trimers do not show this change, which appears to represent an alteration in the cooperative interactions between trimers. HSF isolated from stressed cells displays a higher propensity to adopt this altered conformation. Purified HSF can be stimulated in vitro to undergo the conformational change by elevating the temperature or by exposing HSF to superoxide anion. Mutational analysis maps a region critical for this conformational change to the flexible loop between the minimal DNA-binding domain and the flexible linker that joins the DNA-binding domain to the trimerization domain. The significance of these findings is discussed in the context of the induction of the heat shock response by ischemic stroke, hypoxia, and recovery from anoxia, all known to stimulate the production of superoxide.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document