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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Products of the TAL2 oncogene in leukemic T cells: bHLH phosphoproteins with DNA-binding activity.

The TAL2 gene is activated as a result of the (7;9) (q34;q32) translocation, a chromosome defect found in the malignant cells of some patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). TAL2 potentially encodes a basic helix-loop-helix motif that is highly related to those specified by TAL1 and LYL1, distinct genes that have also been implicated in T-ALL. In this report we show that leukemic cells bearing the (7;9) (q34;q32) translocation express a TAL2 gene product of 108 amino acids. In leukemic cells this product exists in both a phosphorylated (pp13TAL2) and an unphosphorylated (p12TAL2) form. Serine residue 100 is the major site of TAL2 phosphorylation in vivo, and it serves as an effective in vitro substrate for mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases such as ERK1. TAL2 polypeptides interact in vivo with the E2A gene products (E47 and E12) to form bHLH heterodimers that bind DNA in a sequence-specific manner. The TAL2 polypeptides do not bind DNA by themselves, however, suggesting that their functional properties may be contingent upon association with other bHLH proteins. Taken together, the properties of TAL2 evaluated here broadly resemble those described previously for TAL1, and therefore support the idea that both proteins promote T-ALL by a common mechanism.

Base Sequence↗

Substitutions in conserved dodecapeptide motifs that uncouple the DNA binding and DNA cleavage activities of PI-SceI endonuclease.

The PI-SceI endonuclease from yeast belongs to a protein family whose members contain two conserved dodecapeptide motifs within their primary sequences. The function of two acidic residues within these motifs, Asp218 and Asp326, was examined by substituting alanine, asparagine, and glutamic acid residues at these positions. All of the purified mutant proteins bind to the PI-SceI recognition site with the same affinity and specificity as the wild-type enzyme. By contrast, substituting alanine or asparagine amino acids at the two positions completely eliminates strand cleavage of substrate DNA, whereas substitution with glutamic acid markedly reduces the cleavage activity. Experiments using nicked substrates demonstrate that the wild-type enzyme shows no strand preference during cleavage. These results are consistent with a model in which both acidic residues are part of a single catalytic center that cleaves both DNA strands. Furthermore, substrate binding by wild-type PI-SceI stimulates hydroxyl radical or hydroxide ion attack at the cleavage site while binding by the alanine-substituted proteins either stimulates this attack significantly less or protects the DNA at this position. These finding are discussed in terms of possible reaction mechanisms for PI-SceI-mediated endonucleolytic cleavage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

B-cell-specific DNA binding by an E47 homodimer.

B cells express a unique E-box-binding activity that contains basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins encoded by the E2A gene. E2A proteins play a central role in immunoglobulin gene transcription and are also required for the generation of the B-lymphocyte lineage. In muscle, E2A proteins bind DNA as heterodimers with muscle-specific bHLH partners, such as MyoD and myogenin, and these heterodimers are thought to be both necessary and sufficient for muscle determination in cultured cells. Our results indicate that in B cells, the bHLH partners for E2A proteins are not B-cell-restricted proteins, but are the E2A proteins themselves. UV cross-linking, gel purification, and the analysis of "forced heterodimers" indicate that BCF1 is primarily a homodimer of the E2A protein E47. Since E47 is widely expressed, our results argue for a difference in the inherent DNA-binding properties of the E47 protein in B cells and may help explain the restricted B-lineage defect observed in E2A-deficient mice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction of an artificial tandem protein of the c-Myb DNA-binding domain and analysis of its DNA binding specificity.

An artificial tandem protein was generated using the third repeat of the c-Myb DNA-binding domain, and its DNA binding affinity and specificity were analyzed by a filter binding assay, isothermal titration calorimetry, and surface plasmon resonance. Although this artificial protein had the proper secondary structure, which is similar to the third repeat by itself, it could not bind to the expected base sequences specifically. Compared with the successful results of the zinc finger fusion proteins with novel sequence specificities, the cooperativity between the adjacent repeats, observed in the c-Myb-DNA complex, should also be required for the DNA recognition by the artificial tandem protein. Using the previous analyses of the DNA binding specificities by Myb homologous proteins, the differences in the DNA recognition mechanisms between the animal and plant Myb domains are also discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A mutation at proline-115 in the A-factor receptor protein of Streptomyces griseus abolishes DNA-binding ability but not ligand-binding ability.

A-factor (2-isocapryloyl-3R-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone) and its specific receptor protein (ArpA) are required for streptomycin production and aerial mycelium formation in Streptomyces griseus. A mutant strain HO1 that produced streptomycin and formed aerial mycelium and spores was derived from an A-factor-deficient mutant, S. griseus HH1. The phenotypes of mutant HO1 were found to result from a single amino acid replacement of ArpA; the proline residue at position 115 in the wild-type ArpA was replaced by serine, yielding mutant ArpA (P115S). The mutant ArpA (P115S) was still able to form a homodimer and possessed A-factor-binding ability but lost the ability to bind DNA. The properties of P115S suggest that ArpA consists of two independently functional domains, one for A-factor binding and one for DNA binding, and that proline-115 plays an important role in DNA binding. This is in agreement with the idea that A-factor binding to the COOH-terminal domain of ArpA causes a subtle conformational change of the distal NH2-terminal DNA-binding domain, resulting in dissociation of ArpA from DNA.

4-Butyrolactone↗

Protein-protein interactions facilitate DNA binding by the glucocorticoid receptor DNA-binding domain.

We have studied the interaction of the DNA-binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor with a glucocorticoid response element from the tyrosine aminotransferase gene. This response element consists of two binding sites (half-sites) for the glucocorticoid receptor DNA-binding domain. The sequences of these two half-sites are not identical, and we have previously shown that binding occurs preferentially to one of the half-sites (Tsai, S.-Y., Carlstedt-Duke, J., Weigel, N. L., Dahlman, K., Gustafsson, J.-A., Tsai, M.-J., and O'Malley, B. W. (1988) Cell 55, 361-369). We show here that binding to the low affinity half-site is dependent on previous occupancy of the high affinity half-site. This facilitated binding is dependent on the distance between the two half-sites and their relative orientation but is not dependent on the integrity of the DNA backbone. This is consistent with a model where DNA binding is not only dependent on interactions between the protein and its DNA target sequence but is also influenced by interactions between the protein molecules bound.

Base Sequence↗

The relationship between intranuclear mobility of the NF-kappaB subunit p65 and its DNA binding affinity.

It has been hypothesized that the main determinant of the intranuclear mobility of transcription factors is their ability to bind DNA. In the present study, we have extensively tested the relationship between the intranuclear mobility of the NF-kappaB subunit p65 and binding to its consensus target sequence. The affinity of p65 for this binding site is altered by mutation of specific acetylation sites, so these mutants provide a model system to study the relationship between specific DNA binding affinity and intranuclear mobility. DNA binding affinity was measured in vitro using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based method, and intranuclear mobility was measured using the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technique on yellow fluorescent protein-tagged p65 constructs. A negative correlation was observed between DNA binding affinity and intranuclear mobility of p65 acetylation site mutants. However, moving the yellow fluorescent protein tag from the C terminus of p65 to the N terminus resulted in an increased mobility but did not significantly affect DNA binding affinity. Thus, all changes in DNA binding affinity produce alterations in mobility, but not vice versa. Finally, a positive correlation was observed between mobility and the randomness of the intranuclear distribution of p65. Our data are in line with a model in which the intranuclear mobility and distribution of a transcription factor are determined by its affinity for specific DNA sequences, which may be altered by protein-protein interactions.

Acetylation↗

2-mercaptoethanol restores the ability of nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) to bind DNA in nuclear extracts from interleukin 1-treated cells incubated with pyrollidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). Evidence for oxidation of glutathione in the mechanism of inhibition of NF kappa B by PDTC.

The metal chelator and anti-oxidant pyrollidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) has been used extensively in studies implicating reactive oxygen intermediates in the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B). In agreement with other studies, we have shown that PDTC inhibits NF kappa B activation in response to the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 (IL1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF). However, we have found that the inhibition was reversed by treatment of inhibited nuclear extracts with the reducing agent 2-mercaptoethanol. This was observed in extracts prepared from IL1-treated EL4.NOB-1 thymoma cells and TNF-treated Jurkat E6.1 lymphoma cells. These results suggested that the inhibition was caused by oxidation of NF kappa B on a sensitive thiol, possibly on the p50 subunit (which was detected in NF kappa B complexes in both cell types), and not by inhibition of the activation pathway. The possibility that PDTC was acting as a pro-oxidant was therefore investigated. PDTC caused an increase in oxidized glutathione, suggesting that it acts as an oxidizing agent in the cells tested rather than as an anti-oxidant. Similar results were obtained with diamide, a compound designed to oxidize glutathione. Finally, an increase in the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione was shown to inhibit NF kappa B-DNA binding in vitro. On the basis of these results we suggest that, while NF kappa B activation is unaffected by PDTC, DNA binding is inhibited through a mechanism involving a shift towards oxidizing conditions, and that this is the mechanism of action of both PDTC and diamide in the cells tested here.

Animals↗

Structure of the B-Myb DNA-binding domain in solution and evidence for multiple conformations in the region of repeat-2 involved in DNA binding: implications for sequence-specific DNA binding by Myb proteins.

A range of double and triple resonance heteronuclear NMR has been used to obtain nearly complete sequence-specific 15N, 13C and 1H resonance assignments for a 110-residue protein corresponding to the B-Myb DNA-binding domain (B-MybR2R3) and to determine its secondary structure in solution. The protein was found to contain two stable helices in repeat-2 (R2) and three in repeat-3 (R3), involving residues K12-K24 (R2-1), W30-H36 (R2-2), E64-V76 (R3-1), W81-L87 (R3-2) and D93-K105 (R3-3). In addition, the chemical shift and nuclear Overhauser effect data suggest that amino acids Q44-W49 near the C-terminus of R2 form an unstable or nascent helix, which could be stabilised on binding to a specific DNA target site. The two N-terminal helices in R2 and R3 occupy essentially identical positions in the two domains, consistent with the high level of sequence similarity between these regions. In contrast, the C-terminal region forming the third helix in R3 shows low sequence similarity with R2, accounting for the differences in secondary structure. In the case of B-MybR2R3, there is a clear chemical shift and line-broadening evidence for the existence of multiple conformations in the C-terminal region of R2, which is believed to form one half of the DNA-binding site. We propose that conformational instability of part of the DNA-binding motif is a way of increasing the specificity of Myb proteins for a relatively short (6-bp) DNA target site by reducing their affinity for non-specific DNA sequences compared to specific sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The transcriptional and DNA binding activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha is inhibited by ethanol metabolism. A novel mechanism for the development of ethanol-induced fatty liver.

Fatty acids are ligands for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha). Fatty acid levels are increased in liver during the metabolism of ethanol and might be expected to activate PPAR alpha. However, ethanol inhibited PPAR alpha activation of a reporter gene in H4IIEC3 hepatoma cells expressing alcohol-metabolizing enzymes but not in CV-1 cells, which lack these enzymes. Ethanol also reduced the ability of the PPAR alpha ligand WY14,643 to activate reporter constructs in the hepatoma cells or cultured rat hepatocytes. This effect of ethanol was abolished by the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole and augmented by the aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor cyanamide, indicating that acetaldehyde was responsible for the action of ethanol. PPAR alpha/retinoid X receptor extracted from hepatoma cells exposed to ethanol or acetaldehyde bound poorly to an oligonucleotide containing peroxisome proliferator response elements. This effect was also blocked by 4-methylpyrazole and augmented by cyanamide. Furthermore, in vitro translated PPAR alpha exposed to acetaldehyde failed to bind DNA. Thus, ethanol metabolism blocks transcriptional activation by PPAR alpha, in part due to impairment of its ability to bind DNA. This effect of ethanol may promote the development of alcoholic fatty liver and other hepatic consequences of alcohol abuse.

Acetaldehyde↗

Development of a protein microarray using sequence-specific DNA binding domain on DNA chip surface.

A protein microarray based on DNA microarray platform was developed to identify protein-protein interactions in vitro. The conventional DNA chip surface by 156-bp PCR product was prepared for a substrate of protein microarray. High-affinity sequence-specific DNA binding domain, GAL4 DNA binding domain, was introduced to the protein microarray as fusion partner of a target model protein, enhanced green fluorescent protein. The target protein was oriented immobilized directly on the DNA chip surface. Finally, monoclonal antibody of the target protein was used to identify the immobilized protein on the surface. This study shows that the conventional DNA chip can be used to make a protein microarray directly, and this novel protein microarray can be applicable as a tool for identifying protein-protein interactions.

Base Sequence↗

Glycolytic enzymes as DNA binding proteins.

1. Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of at least four glycolytic enzymes in the nuclear compartment of several cell systems. 2. These include, lactate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. 3. In some cases the glycolytic enzymes found in the nuclei were a modified form from that found in the cytoplasmic counterpart. 4. In all four cases, the nuclear form of these glycolytic enzymes has been reported to bind DNA. 5. Although none of these enzymes interact with a specific target DNA sequence, their association with DNA may play a role in transcription and replication of DNA through general stabilization of the nuclear matrix or chromatin structure. 6. The present review aims to summarize the current understanding of this phenomenon and to examine the role of the DNA-binding activities of the glycolytic enzymes in cell growth and differentiation.

Animals↗

Human herpesvirus 6B origin-binding protein: DNA-binding domain and consensus binding sequence.

We previously demonstrated by a DNA-binding assay that the human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) replication origin has a structure similar to those of alphaherpesviruses, although the HHV-6B and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) origin-binding proteins (OBPs) and origins are not interchangeable. Here we describe additional properties of the interaction between HHV-6B OBP and the HHV-6B origin. Competitive electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) with DNA duplexes containing single-base alterations allowed deduction of a consensus DNA sequence for HHV-6B-specific OBP binding, YGWYCWCCY, where Y is T or C and W is T or A, while that for HSV-1-specific binding was reported to be YGYTCGCACT. By EMSA, the HHV-6B OBP DNA-binding domain was mapped to a segment containing amino acids 482 to 770. However, in Southwestern (protein-DNA) blotting, the region sufficient for the DNA binding encompassed only amino acids 657 to 770. Similarly, Southwestern blotting showed that amino acids 689 to 851 of HSV-1 OBP had HSV-1 origin-binding activity, although this region was insufficient for origin binding in the EMSA. Although the longer DNA-binding domains identified by EMSA have marginal overall homology among HHV-6B and alphaherpesvirus OBP homologs, the smaller regions sufficient for the binding observed by Southwestern blotting have significant similarity. From these results, we propose a hypothesis that the DNA-binding domain of herpesvirus OBPs consists of two subdomains, one containing a conserved motif that contacts DNA directly, and another, less well conserved, that may modulate either the conformation or accessibility of the binding domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interferon-alpha induction of STATs1, -3 DNA binding and growth arrest is independent of Lck and active mitogen-activated kinase in T cells.

Type I interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokines that have antiviral and antiproliferative effects. Data regarding the processes by which these cytokines transduce signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus are becoming increasingly complex. The most characterized pathway is via JAK-STAT signaling. Previous studies established a potential role for the Src-family kinase Lck in JAK-STAT signaling. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the role of Lck in IFN-alpha signaling by using the Jurkat, JCam (an Lck-defective cell line derived from Jurkat), and JCam/Lck (JCam cells with Lck restored). The results show that IFN-alpha can induce MAPK activity, but only in cells containing Lck. Furthermore, STATs1 and -3 are effectively phosphorylated and activated to bind DNA in the absence of Lck expression in IFN-alpha-treated cells. Finally, the results demonstrate that IFN-alpha exerts an antiproliferative effect in all three cell lines. These data indicate that Lck and active MAPK do not affect IFN-alpha-induced growth arrest or induction of STAT1s1 and -3 DNA binding ability.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

Millisecond to microsecond time scale dynamics of the retinoid X and retinoic acid receptor DNA-binding domains and dimeric complex formation.

The all-trans retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid receptors (RAR and RXR, respectively) belong to a family of ligand inducible transcription factors, which exert their effect via binding to hormone response elements. Both are members of the class II sub-family of nuclear receptors, which bind DNA as dimers, on tandem repeats of a hexamer motif separated by a variable spacer. The variability in spacer length and the head-to-tail organization of the hormone response elements result in different protein-protein interactions in each of the complexes. We show that the zinc-coordinating loop regions of RXR and RAR DNA-binding domains exhibit dynamics on the millisecond to microsecond time scale. The highly dynamic second zinc finger of RXR constitutes the primary protein-protein interface in many nuclear receptor assemblies on DNA. Dynamics is also observed in the first and second zinc fingers of RAR, which are implicated in dimeric interactions with RXR on response elements with spacers of 5 base pairs and 1 base pair, respectively. The striking correspondence between the regions that exhibit conformational exchange and the dimer interfaces of the proteins complexed with DNA suggests a functional role for the dynamics. The observed flexibility may allow the proteins to adapt to various partners and with different orientations upon assembly on DNA. Furthermore, the more extensive dynamics observed for RXR may reflect the greater ability of this protein to modulate its interaction surface since it participates in a wide variety of receptor complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Stat3 is present in the developing and adult rat cerebellum and participates in the formation of transcription complexes binding DNA at the sis-inducible element.

Stat3 is a member of a recently identified family of proteins named STATs for their ability to act as signal transducers and activators of transcription. Stimulation of epidermal growth factor or cytokine receptors can cause activation of Stat3 and transduction of specific responses to the nucleus. Here the presence of Stat3 has been examined in the rat cerebellum at different times during postnatal development and adulthood by means of immunohistochemistry and western blotting. In addition, DNA binding activity at the sis-inducible element that is present in the promoter of the c-fos gene has been studied by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results have shown that Stat3 p92 is abundant in the rat cerebellum. Stat3 was found in the external granule cell layer and also within the molecular layer from postnatal day (P) 0 to P7. From P15 to the adult, the internal granule cell layer and Purkinje cells were also stained for Stat3. Nuclear extracts were found to contain DNA binding activity to the sis-inducible element during development and adulthood. Supershift assays demonstrated that Stat3 mediates the formation of one protein-DNA complex. The present results suggest that Stat3 participates in intracellular signaling and is involved in maintaining basal c-fos expression in the cerebellum of the developing and adult rat under physiological conditions.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Highly conserved residues in the bZIP domain of yeast GCN4 are not essential for DNA binding.

Yeast GCN4 and the Jun oncoprotein are transcriptional activators that bind DNA via a bZIP domain consisting of a leucine zipper dimerization element and an adjacent basic region that directly contacts DNA. Two highly conserved alanines (Ala-238 and Ala-239 in GCN4) and an invariant asparagine (Asn-235) in the basic region have been proposed to play important roles in DNA sequence recognition by bZIP proteins. Surprisingly, these conserved residues can be functionally replaced in GCN4 and in a derivative containing the Jun basic region (Jun-GCN4). The ability of an amino acid to functionally substitute for Asn-235 does not correlate with its preference for assuming the N-cap position of an alpha helix. This finding argues against the proposal of the scissors grip model that the invariant asparagine forms an N cap that permits the basic region to bend sharply and wrap around the DNA. In contrast to a prediction of the induced fork model, the pattern of functional substitutions of the conserved alanines together with the results of uracil interference experiments suggests that Ala-238 and Ala-239 do not make base-specific DNA contacts. Finally, the Jun-GCN4 chimeric proteins appear much more active in vivo than expected from their DNA-binding properties in vitro. The mechanistic and evolutionary implications of these results are discussed.

Alanine↗

TGFbeta/BMP inhibits the bone marrow transformation capability of Hoxa9 by repressing its DNA-binding ability.

Homeobox (Hox) gene mutations and their altered expressions are frequently linked to human leukemia. Here, we report that transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibits the bone marrow transformation capability of Hoxa9 and Nup98-Hoxa9, the chimeric fusion form of Hoxa9 identified in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), through Smad4, the common Smad (Co-Smad) in the TGFbeta/BMP signaling pathway. Smad4 interacts directly with the homeodomain of Hoxa9 and blocks the ability of Nup98-Hoxa9 to bind DNA, thereby suppressing its ability to regulate downstream gene transcription. Mapping data revealed that the amino-terminus of Smad4 mediates this interaction and overexpression of the Hoxa9 interaction domain of Smad4 was sufficient to inhibit the enhanced serial replating ability of primary bone marrow cells induced by Nup98-Hoxa9. These studies establish a novel mechanism by which TGFbeta/BMP regulates hematopoiesis and suggest that modification of Hox DNA-binding activity may serve as a novel therapeutic intervention for those leukemias that involve deregulation of Hox.

Animals↗