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Biomedical subjects

D O Toft

Publications and source records attributed to D O Toft.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Response of human breast cancer cells to heat shock and chemotherapeutic drugs.

Previous studies have shown that certain chemotherapeutic drugs are less effective on tumor cells when cells have been previously exposed to hyperthermia. In the present study, we have evaluated whether specific modifications in heat shock protein (hsp) expression are associated with resistance to anticancer drugs. RNA levels for hsp90, hsp70, and hsp27 were studied by Northern and slot blots, while proteins were studied by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, in MCF-7/BK and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The sensitivities of these cells to doxorubicin, colchicine, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, actinomycin D, and methotrexate were tested by clonogenic assays. These techniques were applied to both cell lines before (control) and after heat shock. The study revealed that elevated hsp70 and hsp27 levels were associated with doxorubicin resistance. In addition, the presence of phosphorylated hsp27 isoforms was also associated with doxorubicin resistance. The study showed that elevated hsps were not associated with multidrug resistance. Heat shock did not induce P170 glycoprotein mRNA overexpression or resistance to the other drugs tested. We also found that the level of doxorubicin protection conferred by the overexpression of hsp was lower than that obtained in cells expressing a multidrug resistance phenotype (MDA-A1R cells). In these cells, heat shock did not confer additional doxorubicin resistance and hsp27 phosphorylation was deficient. Our studies suggest that specific hsps are associated with doxorubicin resistance in certain human breast cancer cells and that this mechanism seems to be independent of the multidrug resistance system.

Breast Neoplasms

Assembly of progesterone receptor with heat shock proteins and receptor activation are ATP mediated events.

To better understand assembly mechanisms of progesterone receptor (PR) complexes, we have developed a cell-free system for studying PR interactions with the 90- and 70-kDa heat shock proteins (hsp90 and hsp70), and we have used this system to examine requirements for hsp90 binding to PR. Purified chick PR, free of hsp90 and immobilized on an antibody affinity resin, will rebind hsp90 in rabbit reticulocyte lysate when several conditions are met. These include: 1) absence of progesterone, 2) elevated temperature (30 degrees C), 3) presence of ATP, and 4) presence of Mg2+. We have obtained maximal hsp90 binding to receptor when lysate is supplemented with 3 mM MgCl2 and an ATP-regenerating system. ATP depletion of lysate by dialysis or by enzymatic means blocks hsp90 binding to PR; likewise, addition of EDTA to lysate blocks hsp90 binding, but binding is restored by the addition of excess Mg2+. Addition to lysate of monoclonal antibody against hsp70 inhibits hsp90 binding to PR and destabilizes preformed complexes. Stabilization of hsp90-receptor complexes also requires ATP, indicating that ATP and hsp70 are needed to form and to maintain hsp90 complexes. Hormone-dependent activation of reconstituted receptor complexes was also examined. The addition of progesterone to the reticulocyte lysate promotes dissociation of hsp90 and hsp70 from the receptor. This also appears to require ATP and dissociation is most efficient in the presence of an ATP-regenerating system. In conclusion, these studies indicate that PR-hsp90 complexes do not self-assemble; instead, assembly is probably a multistep process requiring ATP and other cellular factors.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Composition, assembly and activation of the avian progesterone receptor.

When isolated from chick oviduct cytosol by antibody adsorption, the inactive progesterone receptor is associated with the two heat shock proteins, hsp90 and hsp70, plus three additional proteins termed p54, p50, and p23 according to their molecular weights. While their functions remain unknown, all of these receptor associated proteins are dissociated upon receptor activation in intact cells. To better understand the assembly and activation mechanisms of progesterone receptor complexes, we have developed a cell-free system for studying receptor interactions with hsp90 and hsp70 and have used this system to examine requirements for hsp90 binding to the receptor. Purified receptor, free of hsp90 and immobilized on an antibody affinity resin, will rebind hsp90 in rabbit reticulocyte lysate when several conditions are met. These include: (1) absence of progesterone, (2) elevated temperature (30 degrees C), (3) presence of ATP, and (4) presence of Mg2+. We have obtained maximal hsp90 binding to receptor when lysate is supplemented with 3 mM MgCl2 and an ATP regenerating system. ATP depletion of lysate by dialysis or ATPase addition blocks hsp90 binding to the receptor. When progesterone is added to pre-formed receptor complexes in reticulocyte lysate it promotes activation and the dissociation of hsp90. This process is also dependent upon ATP. Thus, both the assembly, and activation of the progesterone receptor can be accomplished in the reticulocyte lysate system.

Animals

Characterization of progesterone receptor binding to the 90- and 70-kDa heat shock proteins.

In this study a model system for expression of the chicken progesterone receptor in cultured cells was developed using a quail fibroblast cell line, QT6. The chicken progesterone receptor form A expressed in QT6 cells was evaluated and determined to have a number of similarities to receptor isolated from chicken oviduct. These include hormone binding, sedimentation profile, phosphorylation pattern, heat shock protein (hsp) 70 and hsp90 associations and the ability to stimulate a reporter gene construct. Therefore, the receptor expressed in this system functioned adequately for further evaluation of the particular region (or regions) involved in hsp70 and hsp90 binding. Several receptor deletion mutants were tested for hsp70/hsp90 binding; only the d369-659 mutant, which has the entire steroid-binding domain deleted, was unable to bind hsp90 and hsp70. Three separate regions of the steroid-binding domain were found to partially restore hsp90 and hsp70 binding to the d369-659 mutant protein. However, hsp binding was not abolished when these or other regions of the steroid binding domain were deleted individually. These findings indicate that hsp90 and hsp70 both bind to the steroid-binding domain of the receptor through interactions at multiple locations or through some structural quality that is distributed throughout this region of the protein.

Animals

Purification of unactivated progesterone receptor and identification of novel receptor-associated proteins.

Progesterone receptor complexes were purified from crude cytosol in a rapid, gentle, one-step procedure using anti-receptor monoclonal antibodies covalently attached to an agarose resin. Five nonreceptor proteins specifically co-purified with unactivated avian progesterone receptor; these proteins had molecular masses of approximately 90, 70, 54, 50, and 23 kDa. The 90- and 70-kDa proteins have been previously identified as the 90-kDa heat shock protein and a member of the 70-kDa heat shock protein family, respectively. The 54-, 50-, and 23-kDa proteins have not been previously described as associated with avian progesterone receptor. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed charge heterogeneities for all five proteins. Except for p70, each could be dissociated from receptor by salt, a process inhibited by sodium molybdate. However, molybdate was not required for protein association with receptor in low ionic strength. Following progesterone treatment in vivo p70 still co-purified with cytosolic receptor although the other affiliated proteins were reduced, suggesting hormone-dependent dissociation in conjunction with receptor activation. One of the proteins, p54, displayed in vitro hormone-dependent dissociation which was not prevented by molybdate.

Animals

A method of sequencing without subcloning and its application to the identification of a novel ORF with a sequence suggestive of a transcriptional regulator in the water mold Achlya ambisexualis.

Genomic amplification with transcript sequencing (GAWTS) is a method of direct sequencing that involves amplification with PCR using primers containing phage promoters, transcription of the amplified product, and sequencing with reverse transcriptase. GAWTS requires the generation of PCR primers that are specific for the sequences on both sides of a region. Here we describe promoter ligation and transcript sequencing (PLATS), a direct method for rapidly obtaining novel sequences that utilizes generic primers and only requires knowledge of the sequence on one side of a region. PLATS involves restriction digestion of the amplified vector insert, ligation with a phage promoter, and then GAWTS using phage promoter sequences as the PCR primers. The method is rapid and economical because it uses a limited set of oligonucleotides, and it is potentially amenable to automation because it does not require in vivo manipulations. PLATS facilitates the determination of a genomic sequence responsible for cross-hybridization in a Southern blot. Using PLATS, sequence has been obtained from a 1.1-kb segment in Achlya ambisexualis, which cross-hybridizes to the DNA-binding region of the chicken and Xenopus estrogen receptors. To our knowledge, this represents the first sequence reported from the Oomycetes, a large and widely distributed group of fungi. The sequence reveals a large, transcribed open reading frame that is markedly deficient in the dinucleotide TpA. A putative zinc finger containing three cysteines and one histidine (C-X2-C-X12-H-X3-C) and an acidic segment hint that this clone may be a member of a novel class of transcriptional regulators.

Amino Acid Sequence

Progesterone-induced avidin as a marker of cytodifferentiation in the oviduct: comparison to ovalbumin.

Immunohistochemical analysis of avidin and ovalbumin expression in the normally developing chick oviduct was compared to those changes induced by exogenous estrogen. Oviduct maturation was found to occur in two consecutive phases: slow proliferation and rapid differentiation. Mitosis was induced in the epithelium by estrogen, whereas it was inhibited by progesterone. Endogenous progesterone may retard the proliferation and prevent the differentiation, an effect that is overridden by increased estrogen concentration at the beginning of differentiation. Short secondary stimulation was shown to closely mimic normal maturation. When chicks treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES) for 1 month were allowed to mature, there were marked alterations in oviduct histology and laying behavior. The tubular glands were found to form from the surface epithelium as budlike invaginations, and these cells also contained avidin and ovalbumin. Ovalbumin production was stable in tubular glands. In contrast, the intensity of avidin staining was variable between gland cells even in the same sections. It was conspicuous that the number of avidin-expressing gland cells diminished markedly when estrogen treatment was prolonged over 1 week. After 2-week stimulation with DES, avidin was expressed predominantly by cells of the basal layer of pseudostratified surface epithelium, and ovalbumin mainly by tubular glands and cells of the luminal layer of surface epithelium. Neither of these proteins was expressed by goblet cells. Expression of progesterone receptor, characterized by two antibodies (polyclonal IgG-RB and monoclonal PR6), did not explain the heterogeneity of expression of avidin and ovalbumin, but probably reflects various differentiation stages of epithelial cells.

Animals

Reconstitution of progesterone receptor with heat shock proteins.

Nonactivated chick progesterone receptor from hypotonic tissue extracts exists in a large complex containing the heat shock proteins hsp90 and hsp70 plus additional smaller proteins; activation of receptor to a DNA-binding form involves the dissociation of proteins from the complex. Whereas numerous attempts to reversibly bind components to the activated receptor have been unsuccessful, we now report conditions that promote the reassociation of hsp90 and hsp70 to progesterone receptor. Cytosolic receptor was dissociated from hsp90 and hsp70 by treatment with 0.5 M KCl and 10 mM ATP in the absence of progesterone. It was then purified by binding to immunoaffinity resins. After wash steps, the receptor-resin complex was incubated in rabbit reticulocyte lysate at 30 C, rewashed, and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Saturable binding of rabbit hsp90 and hsp70 to chick receptor was found after incubation with reticulocyte lysate; hsp binding was temperature dependent, but not dependent on exogenous ATP. Incubation of dissolved receptor with oviduct cytosol, from which receptor was obtained, or with purified hsp did not result in hsp binding. Furthermore, mixing oviduct cytosol with lysate inhibited hsp reconstitution, suggesting negative factors for hsp binding in oviduct cytosol. The steroid-binding domain of the receptor was required, since no hsp binding was observed in the reconstitution system using a receptor mutant lacking this domain. When the receptor was isolated in the presence of progesterone, reconstitution with hsp90 and hsp70 did not occur. This is consistent with the in vivo effects of progesterone in promoting hsp dissociation.

Animals

Loss of proliferative potential during terminal differentiation coincides with the decreased abundance of a subset of heterogeneous ribonuclear proteins.

The decrease in abundance of a subset of highly conserved basic nuclear proteins is established to correlate with the loss of proliferative potential in association with the process of terminal differentiation in murine mesenchymal stem cells and human keratinocytes. These proteins, designated P2Ps for proliferation potential proteins, have apparent molecular masses of 30-40 kD, are associated with the 30-40S substructures of nuclear hnRNP complexes, and are recognized by antibodies made against core proteins of hnRNP particles. They also share an epitope in common with heat shock protein-90 (hsp90) and are recognized by two mAbs against hsp90. Two-dimensional electrophoretic Western blots furthermore show that P2Ps make up a subset of hnRNP proteins. Cells that possess these proteins express the potential to proliferate whether or not they are traversing the cell cycle. These include rapidly growing cells, reversibly growth-arrested cells, and nonterminally differentiated cells. In contrast, cells that have irreversibly lost their proliferative potential, such as terminally differentiated cells, show a marked reduction in the abundance of P2Ps as determined by immunodetection on Western blots. A correlation, therefore, exists between the presence of this subset of nuclear proteins and the proliferative potential in two cell types. These results raise the possibility that as a subset of hnRNP proteins, P2Ps may mediate posttranscriptional control of the processing of specific RNAs required for cell proliferation.

Animals

Binding of heat shock proteins to the avian progesterone receptor.

The protein composition of the avian progesterone receptor was analyzed by immune isolation of receptor complexes and gel electrophoresis of the isolated proteins. Nonactivated cytosol receptor was isolated in association with the 90-kilodalton (kDa) heat shock protein, hsp90, as has been described previously. A 70-kDa protein was also observed and was shown by Western immunoblotting to react with an antibody specific to the 70-kDa heat shock protein. Thus, two progesterone receptor-associated proteins are identical, or closely related, to heat shock proteins. When the two progesterone receptor species, A and B, were isolated separately in the absence of hormone, both were obtained in association with hsp90 and the 70-kDa protein. However, activated receptor isolated from oviduct nuclear extracts was associated with the 70-kDa protein, but not with hsp90. A hormone-dependent dissociation of hsp90 from the cytosolic form of the receptor complex was observed within the first hour of in vivo progesterone treatment, which could explain the lack of hsp90 in nuclear receptor complexes. In a cell-free system, hsp90 binding to receptor was stabilized by molybdate but disrupted by high salt. These treatments, however, did not alter the binding of the 70-kDa protein to receptor. Association of the 70-kDa protein with the receptor could be disrupted by the addition of ATP at elevated temperatures (23 degrees C). The receptor-associated 70-kDa protein is an ATP-binding protein, as demonstrated by its affinity labeling with azido[32P]ATP. These results indicate that the two receptor-associated proteins interact with the progesterone receptor by different mechanisms and that they are likely to affect the structure or function of the receptor in different ways.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Immunofluorescence colocalization of the 90-kDa heat-shock protein and microtubules in interphase and mitotic mammalian cells.

A mouse monoclonal antibody (AC88) that was raised against the 88-kDa heat-shock protein of the water mold, Achlya ambisexualis, and that cross-reacts with the 90-kDa mammalian heat-shock protein (hsp90), and an antibody against tubulin were used to localize hsp90 and microtubules, respectively, in the same cultured rat endothelial and PtK1 epithelial cells by indirect immunofluorescence. AC88 and tubulin antibodies labeled the same structures in cells at all stages of the cell cycle, regardless of whether cells were permeabilized before or after fixation. Labeling of cell structures by both AC88 and anti-tubulin antibodies was identically affected by treating cells with colcemid. Double labeling with AC88 and anti-tubulin antibodies in interphase and mitotic cells is consistent with the conclusion that all microtubules are labeled and that no subclass of microtubules is preferentially labeled. Fluorescent labeling by AC88 was prevented by preabsorption of the antibody with purified rat hsp90 but was unaffected by preabsorption with purified 6S tubulin dimer. In contrast to AC88, fluorescent labeling by an anti-tubulin antibody was prevented by preabsorption with tubulin dimer but was unaffected by preabsorption with rat hsp90. Western-blot analysis demonstrated no cross-reactivity of AC88 for tubulin and no cross-reactivity of the anti-tubulin antibody for hsp90. A polyclonal antiserum fraction from a rabbit immunized with the 89-kDa heat-shock protein from chicken also labeled the mitotic apparatus in dividing cells and, somewhat less distinctly, fibrous structures in interphase cells. Labeling by hsp89 anti-serum was prevented by absorption with hsp90. AC88 also labeled microtubules in cultured mouse (L929 and 3T3), rat (endothelium and TRST), hamster (CHO) and primate (BSC, COS-1 and HeLa) cell lines. The demonstration of colocalization of hsp90 with microtubules should provide a valuable clue to eventual understanding of the cellular function of this ubiquitous, conserved and abundant stress-response protein.

Animals

Immunocytochemical localization of estrogen-induced progestin receptors in guinea pig brain.

By using a combination of monoclonal antibodies to progestin receptors and a double-bridge peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique, a sensitive immunocytochemical method was developed for visualizing progestin receptor immunoreactivity (PR-IR) in brains of estrogen-primed guinea pigs. PR-IR neurons were observed throughout the hypothalamus and preoptic area. They were seen in largest numbers in the arcuate nucleus, periventricular preoptic regions, medial preoptic nucleus, medial preoptic area and in the ventrolateral area of the hypothalamus. Lower numbers of PR-IR positive cells were detected in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, paraventricular nucleus and lateral hypothalamus with scattered cells seen throughout the hypothalamus and preoptic area. The PR-IR was mostly intranuclear with lighter staining in neuronal processes. Electron microscopy confirmed the predominantly intranuclear localization and further demonstrated that the reaction product was dispersed throughout the nucleus, but not associated with the nucleolus. Few PR-IR cells were observed in the absence of estradiol priming, and the reaction product was much lighter than in the presence of estradiol. Progesterone injection was without apparent effect on intensity of the PR-IR.

Animals

Immunocytochemical study of progesterone receptors in hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrial tissues.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common genital malignancy in North America. However its pathogenesis, in particular its relationship with hyperplasia is not clear. To understand steroid hormonal interactions in the genesis and growth of human endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma, we have assayed progesterone receptors in hyperplasia and neoplastic human endometrium by immunocytochemistry. The presence of progesterone receptors in target tissues is known to be a marker of both estrogen and progesterone action. The receptors were identified in fresh-frozen sections using a mouse monoclonal antiprogesterone receptor antibody (alpha PR6). The progesterone receptor content was high in the epithelium of hyperplasia without cytological atypia and low in the epithelium of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (hyperplasia with cytological atypia). In carcinomas there was a heterogenous distribution of progesterone receptors in the epithelium but low as compared to hyperplastic endometria without cytological atypia. The stroma contained relatively high progesterone receptor levels irrespective of whether the epithelium was hyperplastic or neoplastic.

Adult

Hormone-dependent phosphorylation of the avian progesterone receptor.

Progesterone receptors are phosphoproteins, in which phosphorylation has been proposed as a control mechanism for some stages of hormone action. Progesterone administration was shown to increase phosphorylation of the receptor from both cytosol and nuclear extracts of whole cells. We have analyzed the receptor phosphopeptides generated by chemical and proteolytic cleavage to assess the number of phosphorylation sites and their approximate location in the receptor. Progesterone receptor was labeled in situ in the presence or absence of hormone in medium containing [32P] orthophosphate, isolated by immunoprecipitation, and then digested with several proteases. The resulting 32P-labeled peptides were resolved by either two-dimensional electrophoresis:chromatography or by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Multiple phosphopeptides (3-6) were detected after cleavage with trypsin, chymotrypsin, or V8 protease. Major increases in phosphorylation occurred at existing sites since after hormone treatment no new phosphopeptides were found. Individual phosphopeptides showed variable increases in phosphorylation of 1.5-5-fold. The A and B receptor forms showed identical phosphorylation patterns, indicating similar processing in vivo. The phosphopeptide pattern for receptor in nuclear extracts resembled that of cytosol receptor. Chemical cleavage was used to assess the distribution of phosphorylation sites. Cyanogen bromide produced a large 40-kDa polypeptide which contained all of the phosphorylation sites and comprised the residues 129-449. Hydroxylamine was used to cleave a unique bond, Asn-372-Gly-373, in the 40-kDa polypeptide. All of the phosphorylation sites were located on the amino-terminal side of the cleavage. Thus, all of the phosphorylation sites were localized to a specific region (Met-129 to Asn-372) of the progesterone receptor that does not include either the DNA or steroid binding domains.

Animals

Hormone-dependent processing of the avian progesterone receptor.

Avian progesterone receptor exists as two forms, A and B, with molecular weights of 79,000 and 110,000 daltons, respectively. The origin and significance of these two forms is an area of active investigation and debate. Monoclonal antibodies produced against these two forms were used to examine receptor stability in cytosol and changes in the receptor forms induced by hormone binding. The lability of hormone binding at elevated temperatures is well documented. Analysis by Western blotting showed the receptor was stable in freshly prepared oviduct cytosol for 2 hr at 37 degrees C, while hormone binding was lost within 30 min. However, loss of receptor through degradation was seen when cytosol was prepared from frozen tissue or when homogenization was excessive. Progesterone was injected into diethylstilbestrol-stimulated chicks to examine, in vivo, effects of hormone treatment on receptor forms in the cytosol and nuclear fractions. Progesterone treatment caused a time- and dose-dependent conversion of the A receptor to a form (A') with a slower electrophoretic mobility. The cytosolic progesterone receptor was divided equally between the B and A forms, while the nuclear receptor was predominantly A'. The amount of nuclear receptor was consistently less than cytosolic receptor. Receptor phosphorylation was analyzed by incubating tissue minces with [32P]orthophosphate with or without progesterone followed by immune isolation of receptor forms. Progesterone treatment caused a time-dependent increase in cytosol receptor phosphorylation which was evident after 5 min of treatment. This phosphorylation was observed with both the A and B receptor forms. The results indicate that receptor phosphorylation is a very early event during progesterone action.

Animals

Interaction of murine progesterone receptors with specific monoclonal antibodies to the avian progesterone receptor.

Monoclonal antibodies raised against purified chicken progesterone receptor (PgR) have been described and characterized recently. In this study we have screened these antibodies for cross-reactivity with murine PgR. Of the six anti-PgR antibodies tested, one (alpha PR6) precipitates murine PgR in an assay using protein A-sepharose as an absorbent for the antibody. The antibody is specific for PgR and does not react with the estrogen receptor or the glucocorticoid receptor in the same cytosol. In immunoblot experiments, both alpha PR6 and alpha PR11 recognize a 115,000 Da protein, however, alpha PR11 gives a weaker signal than alpha PR6. In photoaffinity labeling experiments, a 115,000 Da and an 83,000 Da protein covalently bind tritiated R5020 in a receptor-specific way. We conclude that the alpha PR6 antibody can be used as a tool to study the structure and function of the murine PgR.

Affinity Labels

Studies with antibodies against the conserved cysteine region of progesterone receptor.

Polyclonal antibodies were generated against two synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences from the DNA-binding domain of steroid receptors. The sequence for peptide 1 (13 amino acids) lies between the two putative metal-binding loops of the conserved cysteine region while the sequence for peptide 2 (12 amino acids) lies within one loop. Peptide antibodies were generated by injecting rabbits with peptide conjugated to bovine serum albumin. By Western blot analysis, antibodies to peptide 2 recognized chick and human progesterone receptor and human glucocorticoid receptor, but peptide 1 antibodies did not. No cross-reactivity with native chick progesterone receptor was detected with either anti-peptide. These findings suggest that the epitopes for peptide 2 antibodies, and possibly for peptide 1 antibodies, are inaccessible to antibody in the native receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence

The production of antibodies against the conserved cysteine region of steroid receptors and their use in characterizing the avian progesterone receptor.

The most highly conserved feature of steroid receptor primary structure, the conserved cysteine region, corresponds to the DNA-binding domain of steroid receptors. This domain of chick progesterone receptor (PR) and other receptors was immunochemically characterized using site-directed antibodies. Eight peptides were synthesized corresponding to portion of the conserved cysteine region from PR, glucocorticoid, or estrogen receptor proteins. Polyclonal antibodies were obtained by immunizing rabbits with peptide conjugated to a protein carrier. The cross-reactivity of each antiserum was tested by Western blotting against chick and human PR, human glucocorticoid receptor, and human estrogen receptor. Of the several antisera positive by Western blots, only one cross-reacted with native chick PR. It was found that antibody bound to 4S transformed receptor, but not to 8S nontransformed receptor. At 50 mM KCl, antibody bound preferentially to transformed receptor form A, but at 400 mM KCl antibody bound equally well to either receptor form A or B. Binding of PR to DNA-cellulose was partially inhibited by the presence of cross-reacting peptide antibody. Thus, we have obtained at least one site-directed antibody against steroid receptors which is a useful structural probe to the DNA-binding functional domain of these gene regulatory proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence