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RNA-binding properties of in vitro expressed histidine-tagged RB69 RegA translational repressor protein.

To facilitate RNA-binding studies of the phage RB69 RegA translational repressor protein, regA was configured to add six histidines to the carboxyl end of the protein. In vitro transcription-translation from the T7 promoter on plasmid pSA1 yielded a RegA69-His6 protein that binds nickel-Sepharose and elutes with 0.5 M imidazole. The system was further modified to avoid cloning and the toxic effects of RegA on Escherichia coli by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), producing linear templates with the configuration T7 promoter-TIR-regA-His6. A translation initiation region was used that conforms to consensus E. coli and eukaryotic initiation sites and eliminates the target for RegA autogenous repression. RegA69-His6 synthesized in E. coli S30 or wheat germ extracts displayed RNA-binding properties similar to wild-type RB69 RegA. Specificity of RNA binding was demonstrated by in vitro repression of T4 gp44 and gp45 but not beta-lactamase, by differential binding to poly(U)- and poly(C)-agarose, and by site-specific binding to a 23-base gene 44 target RNA but not to mutant 44 RNA. Therefore, addition of the His6 tag to the C-terminus of RB69 RegA does not dramatically alter RNA binding, indicating that this region is not directly involved in site recognition. With access to several T4-like phage genomes and regA mutant sequences, in vitro synthesis of His-tagged proteins directly from linear PCR products provides a convenient and efficient system to study RegA and other interesting RNA-binding proteins.

Bacteriophage T4↗

Interactions between lac repressor protein and site-specific bromodeoxyuridine-substituted operator DNA. Ultraviolet footprinting and protein-DNA cross-link formation.

Specific contacts between the lac repressor and operator have been explored using 5-bromodeoxyuridine-substituted DNA. Substitution of BrdU for single thymidine positions in a synthetic 40-base pair operator provides substrate for ultraviolet irradiation; upon irradiation, strand scission occurs at the BrdU residues. When bound, lac repressor protein provides protection against UV-induced breakage depending on the nature of the sites and type of interaction. We have confirmed 13 unique sites of inducer-sensitive protection along the operator sequence using this method compared to complete substitution with BrdU; differences were observed at two positions for singly substituted versus completely substituted DNAs (Ogata, R., and Gilbert, W. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 4973-4976). The ability of these photosensitive DNAs to form short range cross-links to bound protein has been used to determine the efficiency with which cross-linked protein-DNA complexes are generated at each individual site of BrdU substitution. Five sites of high efficiency cross-linking to the repressor protein have been identified. At one site, cross-linking without protection from strand scission was observed; this result suggests an unusual mechanism of strand scission and/or cross-linking at this site. Comparison of the UV protection results and the cross-linking data show that these processes provide complementary tools for identifying and analyzing individual protein-DNA contacts.

Autoradiography↗

Chemical modification of lactose repressor protein using N-substituted maleimides.

Lactose repressor protein has been modified with N-ethylmaleimide, two N-maleimide spin labels, and an N-maleimide fluorophore. The reaction with repressor cysteine residues has been characterized. Approximately 2 of the 3 eq of cysteine/repressor monomer are reactive toward these reagents. Repressor cysteines are reactive toward these reagents in the order cysteine 140 greater than or equal to cysteine 107 greater than cysteine 281. The reaction is sulfhydryl-specific. Comparison of chemical modification data obtained in this laboratory using a variety of sulfhydryl-specific reagents has been used to assess chemical features of individual cysteine environments. Effects of the maleimide reagents on biological activity have been determined. Only the fluorophore N-(3-pyrene)maleimide has significant effect; this agent selectively perturbs repressor's ability to bind to operator DNA. This result suggests that regions of protein structure surrounding 1 or more of the cysteine residues possess determinants required for normal operator DNA binding.

Cysteine↗

Trinitrobenzenesulfonate modification of the lysine residues in lactose repressor protein.

Modification of the lysine residues in the lactose repressor protein has been carried out with trinitrobenzenesulfonate. Reaction of lysine residues at positions 33, 37, 108, 290, and 327 was observed. Inducer binding was increased by modification with this reagent, while both nonspecific DNA binding and operator DNA binding were diminished, although to differing degrees. The loss in operator DNA binding capacity was complete with modification of approximately 2 equiv of lysine per monomer. The extent of reaction was affected by the presence of both sugar and DNA ligands; binding activities of the modified protein and reaction pattern of the lysines were perturbed by these ligands. The presence of operator or nonspecific DNA during the reaction protected against specific and nonspecific DNA binding activity loss. This protection presumably occurs by steric restriction of reagent access to lysine residues which are essential for both nonspecific and operator binding interactions. Lysines-33 and -108 were protected from modification in the presence of DNA. These experiments suggest that the charge on the lysine residues is important for protein interaction with DNA and that steric constraints for operator DNA interaction with the protein are more restrictive than for nonspecific DNA binding. In contrast, inducer (isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactoside) presence partially protected lysine-290 from modification while significantly enhancing reaction at lysine-327. Conformational alterations consequent to inducer binding are apparently reflected in these altered lysine reactivities.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

A eukaryotic repressor protein, the qa-1S gene product of Neurospora crassa, is homologous to part of the arom multifunctional enzyme.

Little is known about the proteins involved in the control of gene expression in eukaryotes. Although some of these proteins have been sequenced, their biochemical functions are not well understood and the identification of homologies to proteins of known activities may give useful clues to the functions of these regulatory proteins. We report here that the qa-1S repressor protein of the fungus Neurospora crassa is strongly homologous to the pentafunctional arom enzyme found in many lower eukaryotes. We believe that this is the first known case of a repressor protein that is unequivocally homologous to metabolic enzymes. These findings allow us to propose likely functions for some regions of the qa-1S protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The bovine papillomavirus type 1 E2 transactivator and repressor proteins use different nuclear localization signals.

The E2 gene of bovine papillomavirus type 1 encodes at least three nuclear phosphoproteins that regulate viral transcription and DNA replication. All three proteins have a common C-terminal domain that has DNA-binding and dimerization activities. A basic region in this domain forms an alpha helix which makes direct contact with the DNA target. In this study, it is shown that in addition to its role in DNA binding, this basic region functions as a nuclear localization signal both in the E2 DNA-binding domain and in a heterologous protein. Deletion of this signal sequence resulted in increased accumulation of the E2 transactivator and repressor proteins in the cytoplasm, but nuclear localization was not eliminated. In the full-length transactivator protein, another signal, present in the N-terminal transactivation domain, is used for transport to the nucleus, and the C-terminal nuclear localization signal(s) are masked. The use of different nuclear localization signals could potentially allow differential regulation of the subcellular localization of the E2 transactivator and repressor proteins at some stage in the viral life cycle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aberrant interactions of transcriptional repressor proteins with the Huntington's disease gene product, huntingtin.

We detected an interaction of the N-terminus of huntingtin (htt171) with the C-terminal region of the nuclear receptor co-repressor (N-CoR) using the yeast two-hybrid system. This interaction was repeat length dependent and specific to htt171; the co-repressor did not interact with the repeat carrying a section of atrophin 1 nor with the androgen receptor or polyglutamine alone. The interaction was confirmed using His-tagged Escherichia coli -expressed C-terminal human and rat co-repressor protein which pulled full-length huntingtin out of homogenized rat brain and in pull-down assays. The N-CoR represses transcription from sequence-specific ligand-activated receptors such as the retinoid X-thyroid hormone receptor dimers and other nuclear receptors including Mad-Max receptor dimers. The mechanism of this repression appears to be through the formation of a complex of repressor proteins including the N-CoR, mSin3 and histone deacetylases. We have used N-CoR and mSin3A antibodies in immunohistochemical studies and find that in Huntington's disease (HD) cortex and caudate, the cellular localization of these proteins is exclusively cytoplasmic whilst in control brain they are localized in the nucleus as well as the cytoplasm; mSin3A immunoreactivity also occurred in a subset of huntingtin positive intranuclear inclusions. The relocalization of repressor proteins in HD brain may alter transcription and be involved in the pathology of the disease.

Acetyltransferases↗

Lactose repressor protein: functional properties and structure.

The lactose repressor protein (LacI), the prototype for genetic regulatory proteins, controls expression of lactose metabolic genes by binding to its cognate operator sequences in E. coli DNA. Inducer binding elicits a conformational change that diminishes affinity for operator sequences with no effect on nonspecific binding. The release of operator is followed by synthesis of mRNA encoding the enzymes for lactose utilization. Genetic, chemical and physical studies provided detailed insight into the function of this protein prior to the recent completion of X-ray crystallographic structures. The structural information can now be correlated with the phenotypic data for numerous mutants. These structures also provide the opportunity for physical and chemical studies on mutants designed to examine various aspects of lac repressor structure and function. In addition to providing insight into protein structure-function correlations, LacI has been utilized in a wide variety of applications both in prokaryotic gene expression and in eukaryotic gene regulation and studies of mutagenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Induction of vascular smooth muscle alpha-actin gene transcription in transforming growth factor beta1-activated myofibroblasts mediated by dynamic interplay between the Pur repressor proteins and Sp1/Smad coactivators.

The mouse vascular smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMA) gene enhancer is activated in fibroblasts by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), a potent mediator of myofibroblast differentiation and wound healing. The SMA enhancer contains tandem sites for the Sp1 transcriptional activator protein and Puralpha and beta repressor proteins. We have examined dynamic interplay between these divergent proteins to identify checkpoints for possible control of myofibroblast differentiation during chronic inflammatory disease. A novel element in the SMA enhancer named SPUR was responsible for both basal and TGFbeta1-dependent transcriptional activation in fibroblasts and capable of binding Sp1 and Pur proteins. A novel Sp1:Pur:SPUR complex was dissociated when SMA enhancer activity was increased by TGFbeta1 or Smad protein overexpression. Physical association of Pur proteins with Smad2/3 was observed as was binding of Smads to an upstream enhancer region that undergoes DNA duplex unwinding in TGFbeta1-activated myofibroblasts. Purbeta repression of the SMA enhancer could not be relieved by TGFbeta1, whereas repression mediated by Puralpha was partially rescued by TGFbeta1 or overexpression of Smad proteins. Interplay between Pur repressor isoforms and Sp1 and Smad coactivators may regulate SMA enhancer output in TGFbeta1-activated myofibroblasts during episodes of wound repair and tissue remodeling.

Actins↗

Interactions between the leukaemia-associated ETO homologues of nuclear repressor proteins.

The eight-twenty-one (ETO) homologues, represented by ETO, myeloid transforming gene-related protein 1 (MTGR1) and myeloid transforming gene chromosome 16 (MTG16), are nuclear repressor proteins. ETO is part of the fusion protein acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)1-ETO, resulting from the translocation (8;21). Similarly, MTG16 is disrupted to become part of AML1/MTG16 in t(16;21). The aberrant expression of these chimeras could affect interplay between ETO homologues and contribute to the leukaemogenic process. We investigated possible interactions between the ETO homologues. Ectopic co-expression in COS-cells resulted in heterodimerisation of the various ETO homologues suggesting that they may co-operate. Similarly, the chimeric oncoprotein AML1-ETO interacted with both MTGR1 and MTG16. However, results from cell lines endogenously expressing more than one ETO homologue did not demonstrate co-precipitation. Results from IP-Western and size determination by gel filtration of deletion mutants expressed in COS-cells, indicated an important role of the HHR domain for oligomerisation. A role was also suggested for the Nervy domain in the homologue interactions. Our results suggest that ETO homologues can interact with each other as well as with AML1-ETO, although it is unclear as to what extent these interactions occur in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Exposure of antigenic sites during immunization. Monoclonal antibodies to monomer of lactose repressor protein.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for the lactose repressor protein have been purified from three mouse hybridoma cell lines, and ascitic fluids from five other cell lines producing repressor antibodies have been assayed for immunoglobulin subclass and antigenic specificity. The chymotryptic core region (amino acids 57-360) of the repressor reacted with all antibodies examined, while no reaction with the NH2-terminal domain (1-56) could be detected. All of the purified antibodies and ascitic fluids reacted with the carboxyl-terminal fragment (amino acids 281-360) produced by cyanylation and base-catalyzed cleavage at the cysteine residues. Although none of the purified antibodies associated with native, tetrameric lac repressor, reaction was observed with repressor which had been denatured or dissociated into monomers by treatment with low levels of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Additionally, a mutant repressor which exists as a monomer in solution reacted with the antibodies in the absence of any denaturing treatments. These data indicate the carboxyl-terminal region is inaccessible in the intact repressor tetramer and further suggest that denaturation/dissociation of a protein during the initial immunologic challenge may result in the production of monoclonal antibodies to antigenic areas of the protein which are not exposed in the native conformation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human cut-like repressor protein binds TGFbeta type II receptor gene promoter.

Resistance to the growth inhibitory effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) has been associated with decreased levels of the TGFbeta type II receptor (TbetaR-II) and has been correlated with tumorigenicity. Previously, we reported an A --> G mutation at position -364 in the TbetaR-II promoter in A431 tumor cells which results in reduced TbetaR-II promoter activity. In this study, we show that the CDP/Cut (CCAAT displacement protein) transcription factor, a transcriptional repressor, binds both the wild type and the mutant TbetaR-II promoter. We also demonstrate that the A --> G mutation increases CDP/Cut binding affinity, and that overexpression of CDP/Cut reduces transcription from TbetaR-II promoter reporter constructs. Increased binding of the CDP/Cut repressor protein, as a result of a mutation at position -364, represents a novel mechanism of regulation in a neoplastic cell of the promoter of a tumor suppressor gene, TbetaR-II.

Binding Sites↗

Modelling repressor proteins docking to DNA.

The docking of repressor proteins to DNA starting from the unbound protein and model-built DNA coordinates is modeled computationally. The approach was evaluated on eight repressor/DNA complexes that employed different modes for protein/ DNA recognition. The global search is based on a protein-protein docking algorithm that evaluates shape and electrostatic complementarity, which was modified to consider the importance of electrostatic features in DNA-protein recognition. Complexes were then ranked by an empirical score for the observed amino acid /nucleotide pairings (i.e., protein-DNA pair potentials) derived from a database of 20 protein/ DNA complexes. A good prediction had at least 65% of the correct contacts modeled. This approach was able to identify a good solution at rank four or better for three out of the eight complexes. Predicted complexes were filtered by a distance constraint based on experimental data defining the DNA footprint. This improved coverage to four out of eight complexes having a good model at rank four or better. The additional use of amino acid mutagenesis and phylogenetic data defining residues on the repressor resulted in between 2 and 27 models that would have to be examined to find a good solution for seven of the eight test systems. This study shows that starting with unbound coordinates one can predict three-dimensional models for protein/DNA complexes that do not involve gross conformational changes on association.

Algorithms↗

Secondary structure mapping of an RNA ligand that has high affinity for the MetJ repressor protein and interference modification analysis of the protein-RNA complex.

The secondary structure of an RNA aptamer, which has a high affinity for the Escherichia coli MetJ repressor protein, has been mapped using ribonucleases and with diethyl pyrocarbonate. The RNA ligand is composed of a stem-loop with a highly structured internal loop. Interference modification showed that the bases within the internal loop, and those directly adjacent to it, are important in the binding of the RNA ligand to MetJ. Most of the terminal stem-loop could be removed with little effect on the binding. Ethylation interference suggests that none of the phosphate groups are absolutely essential for tight binding. The data suggest that the MetJ binding site on the aptamer is distinct from that of the natural DNA target, the 8-base pair Met box.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Differential scanning calorimetry of thermal unfolding of the methionine repressor protein (MetJ) from Escherichia coli.

The thermal stability of the methionine repressor protein from Escherichia coli (MetJ) has been examined over a wide range of pH (pH 3.5-10) and ionic strength conditions using differential scanning calorimetry. Under reducing conditions, the transitions are fully reversible, and thermograms are characteristic of the cooperative unfolding of a globular protein with a molecular weight corresponding to the MetJ dimer, indicating that no dissociation of this dimeric protein occurs before unfolding of the polypeptide chains under most conditions. In the absence of reducing agent, repeated scans in the calorimeter show only partial reversibility, though the thermodynamic parameters derived from the first scans are comparable to those obtained under fully reversible conditions. The protein is maximally stable (Tm 58.5 degrees C) at about pH 6, close to the estimated isoelectric point, and stability is enhanced by increasing ionic strength in the range I = 0.01-0.4 M. The average calorimetric transition enthalpy (delta Hm) for the dimer is 505 +/- 28 kJ mol-1 under physiological conditions (pH 7, I = 0.125, Tm = 53.2 degrees C) and shows a small temperature dependence which is consistent with an apparent denaturational heat capacity change (delta Cp) of about +8.9 kJ K-1 mol-1. The effects of both pH and ionic strength on the transition temperature and free energy of MetJ unfolding are inconsistent with any single amino acid contribution and are more likely the result of more general electrostatic interactions, possibly including significant contributions from electrostatic repulsion between the like-charged monomers which can be modeled by a Debye-Hückel screened potential.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Regulation of transcription of the repA1 gene in the replication control region of IncFII plasmid NR1 by gene dosage of the repA2 transcription repressor protein.

Transcription of the repA1 gene of the IncFII plasmid NR1 is initiated at two promoters in the replication control region. Transcription from the upstream promoter is constitutive at a low level, whereas transcription from the downstream promoter is regulated. The 5' end of the constitutively synthesized transcript also encodes the transcription repressor protein for the regulated downstream promoter. Therefore, the level of the repressor protein in the cell is gene dosage dependent. Using both lac gene fusions and quantitative hybridization methods, we have determined the in vivo relationship between the rate of transcription from the regulated promoter and the repressor protein concentration as a function of gene dosage. At the wild-type copy number of NR1, transcription from the regulated promoter is 96% repressed, but substantial derepression occurs when the copy number falls below the normal value. At or above the normal plasmid copy number, the basal level of repA1 mRNA is provided by transcription from the constitutive upstream promoter.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Formation of mixed disulfide adducts at cysteine-281 of the lactose repressor protein affects operator and inducer binding parameters.

The lactose repressor protein has been modified with three sulfhydryl-specific reagents which form mixed disulfide adducts. Methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTS) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) completely reacted with all three cysteine residues, whereas only partial reaction was observed with didansylcystine. Cysteines-107 and -140 reacted stoichiometrically with MMTS and DTNB, while Cys-281 was modified only at higher molar ratios. Didansylcystine reacted primarily with cysteines-107 and -140. Affinity of MMTS-modified repressor for 40 base pair operator DNA was decreased 30-fold compared to unmodified repressor, and this decrease correlated with modification of cysteine-281. DTNB-modified repressor bound operator DNA with a 50-fold weaker affinity than unmodified repressor. Modification of the lac repressor with didanylcystine decreased operator binding only 4-fold, and nonspecific DNA binding increased 3-fold compared to unmodified repressor. No change in the inducer equilibrium binding constant was observed following modification with any of these reagents. In contrast, inducer association and dissociation rate constants were decreased approximately 50-fold for repressor completely modified with MMTS or DTNB, while didansylcystine had minimal effect on inducer binding kinetics. Correlation between modification of Cys-281 and the observed decrease in rate constants indicates that this region of the protein regulates the accessibility of the sugar binding site. The parallel between the increase in the Kd for repressor binding to operator, the altered rate constant for inducer binding, and modification of cysteine-281 suggests that this region of the protein is crucially involved in the function of the repressor protein.

Cysteine↗