PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “repressor proteins”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Ligand-mediated conformational changes in Trp repressor protein of Escherichia coli probed through limited proteolysis and the use of specific antibodies.

Trp repressor of Escherichia coli K-12 is a dimeric protein (monomer size, 108 amino acids) that acquires high affinity for certain operator targets in double-stranded DNA upon interaction with L-tryptophan. High titer antiserum directed against E. coli Trp repressor protein, elicited in rabbits, was monospecific toward native or denatured Trp repressor. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure antigen-antibody reaction, we found that the binding of L-tryptophan to Trp repressor was associated with a marked decrease in antibody reactivity that presumably accompanied a conformational change in this protein to a state with strong affinity for trp operator-bearing DNA. We analyzed the pattern of cleavage of Trp repressor by chymotrypsin and trypsin and the effect of L-tryptophan on such hydrolytic cleavages. Chymotrypsin cleaved Trp repressor mainly between residues 71 and 72. In the presence of L-tryptophan this cleavage was slowed. The first-order rate constants for chymotryptic digestion of Trp repressor were 7.6 X 10(-2) and 4.6 X 10(-2) min-1 in the absence and presence of L-tryptophan, respectively. Tryptic digestion was more complex. Initial cleavage of Trp repressor occurred with approximately equal facility between residues 69-70 or 84-85. Subsequent tryptic hydrolyses led eventually to a major core fragment containing the first 54 amino acids of Trp repressor plus four other fragments from the carboxyl-terminal half of the protein. In the presence of L-tryptophan, cleavage by trypsin between residues 54-55 and 84-85 was retarded, even when a previous hydrolytic event elsewhere in the protein had occurred. Tryptophan had essentially no effect on the tryptic hydrolysis of peptide bond 97-98, but accelerated cleavage at peptide bond 69-70. The first-order rate constants for the first tryptic cleavage of Trp receptor were 1.55 X 10(-1) and 1.33 X 10(-1) min-1 in the absence and presence of ligand, respectively. Our results are compatible with a structural model wherein certain amino acid side chains and peptide bonds of Trp repressor (specifically, those of residues 69-85) lie on or near the surface of the protein. This region of Trp repressor has been predicted to contain the operator recognition site. The susceptibility to proteolytic attack of at least four peptide bonds in this area changes when the protein interacts with L-tryptophan.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chlamydial GroEL autoregulates its own expression through direct interactions with the HrcA repressor protein.

In the pathogenic bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, a transcriptional repressor, HrcA, regulates the major heat shock operons, dnaK and groE. Cellular stress causes a transient increase in transcription of these heat shock operons through relief of HrcA-mediated repression, but the pathway leading to derepression is unclear. Elevated temperature alone is not sufficient, and it is hypothesized that additional chlamydial factors play a role. We used DNA affinity chromatography to purify proteins that interact with HrcA in vivo and identified a higher-order complex consisting of HrcA, GroEL, and GroES. This endogenous HrcA complex migrated differently than recombinant HrcA, but the complex could be disrupted, releasing native HrcA that resembled recombinant HrcA. In in vitro assays, GroEL increased the ability of HrcA to bind to the CIRCE operator and to repress transcription. Other chlamydial heat shock proteins, including the two additional GroEL paralogs present in all chlamydial species, did not modulate HrcA activity.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Characterization of two mutant lactose repressor proteins containing single tryptophans.

Two mutant lactose repressors, each containing a single tryptophan, were generated by site-specific mutagenesis. Tyrosine was substituted for tryptophan to be analogous to amber suppression mutants reported previously (Sommer, H., Lu, P., and Miller, J. H. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 3774-3779). Unlike the amber suppression mutants, plasmids containing the mutant sequences produce large quantities of stable, easily isolable protein. The binding properties of the site-specific mutant repressors (W201Y, W220Y) differ from those reported for the corresponding suppression mutants (A201, A220). Whereas minimal effects on operator dissociation rate from lambda plac DNA were noted for the suppression mutants, purified W201Y and W220Y proteins exhibit 10- and 5-fold reduced affinity for a 40-base pair operator, respectively, compared with wild-type. Inducer binding of the A201 and W201Y mutants was similar to that for wild-type repressor, but the inducer affinity of W220Y was approximately 2-fold lower than A220 (approximately 30-fold lower than wild-type). Fluorescence spectra and iodide quenching of the mutant proteins were similar to the suppression mutants, but the absorption coefficient differed significantly from the values reported previously. Acrylamide and iodide quenching results indicate that Trp201 is relatively buried whereas Trp220 is exposed to solvent; inducer binding reduces quenching of Trp220 significantly. CD spectra indicate that the mutant proteins have secondary structural features similar to those of wild-type. Inducer UV difference spectra showed that the major features reported for the wild-type isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside difference spectrum were attributable to both tryptophans. In the presence of melibiose, a new minimum appeared in the difference spectra of wild-type and W201Y which was not evident when these proteins bound isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside. It is possible that this new feature results from Trp220 involvement in a direct contact with the second sugar in disaccharide inducer molecules such as melibiose and 1,6-allolactose.

Circular Dichroism↗

Lactose repressor protein modified with dansyl chloride: activity effects and fluorescence properties.

Chemical modification using 5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride (dansyl chloride) has been used to explore the importance of lysine residues involved in the binding activities of the lactose repressor and to introduce a fluorescent probe into the protein. Dansyl chloride modification of lac repressor resulted in loss of operator DNA binding at low molar ratios of reagent/monomer. Loss of nonspecific DNA binding was observed only at higher molar ratios, while isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactoside binding was not affected at any of the reagent levels studied. Lysine residues were the only modified amino acids detected. Protection of lysines-33 and -37 from modification by the presence of nonspecific DNA correlated with maintenance of operator DNA binding activity, and reaction of lysine-37 paralleled operator binding activity loss. Energy transfer between dansyl incorporated in the core region of the repressor protein and tryptophan-201 was observed, with an approximate distance of 23 A calculated between these two moieties.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

The Krüppel-like zinc-finger protein ZNF224 represses aldolase A gene transcription by interacting with the KAP-1 co-repressor protein.

Transcription factors belonging to the Krüppel-like zinc finger family of proteins participate in the regulation of cell differentiation and development. Although many of these proteins have been identified, little is known about their structure and function. We recently purified ZNF224, a new Krüppel-like zinc finger protein, that contains a Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain at the NH2 terminus, and 19 Cys2-His2 zinc-finger domains at the COOH terminus. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and transient transfection assays, we demonstrate that ZNF224 binds in vivo to the distal promoter of the aldolase A gene and represses its transcription. The results of transient co-transfection experiments show that ZNF224-mediated transcription repression requires the 45-amino acid long KRAB A domain. The ability of KRAB-containing ZNF224 protein to repress transcription depends on specific interaction with the KAP-1 co-repressor molecule. Finally, using selective treatment with the HDAC1 inhibitor trichostatin A, we demonstrate that ZNF224-mediated repression requires histone deacetylases.

Acetylation↗

Inducible cyclic AMP early repressor protein in rat pinealocytes: a highly sensitive natural reporter for regulated gene transcription.

Rhythmic activity of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) determines melatonin synthesis in rat pineal gland. The transcriptional regulation of AANAT involves the activating and inhibiting transcription factors of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-signaling pathway, cAMP response element-binding protein and inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER), respectively. Activation of this pathway is centered around norepinephrine, stimulating beta(1)-adrenergic receptors, but various other transmitters can modulate melatonin biosynthesis. To compare the transcriptional impact of norepinephrine with that of other neurotransmitters on melatonin synthesis, we determined ICER protein levels in pinealocytes and, in parallel, hormone secretion. The dose-dependent inductions of ICER protein by norepinephrine, the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol, vasoactive intestinal peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, and adenosine are correlated to regulatory dynamics in melatonin production. Importantly, ICER protein induction required lower ligand concentrations than the induction of melatonin biosynthesis. Although neuropeptide Y, glutamate, and vasopressin altered norepinephrine-stimulated hormone production without affecting ICER levels, the activation of voltage-gated cation channels increased ICER without affecting hormone synthesis. Sensitivity and versatility of ICER induction in pinealocytes make these neuroendocrine cells a valuable model system in which to study molecular interactions determining a regulated gene expression.

Acetylcholine↗

Overexpression, purification, and analysis of the c1 repressor protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage D3.

A 3.1-kb region of the bacteriophage D3 genome which contains the immunity functions has recently been sequenced (GenBank accession No. L22692). Sequence analysis indicated the presence of a putative repressor gene (c1) whose protein product functions to maintain the bacteriophage genome as a stably integrated prophage in the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A plasmid was constructed that overexpresses repressor C1 protein under control of P(tac) in Escherichia coli. C1 protein was subsequently purified and characterized as a 223 amino acid protein with specific binding affinity for 14-base imperfect palindromic operator sequences located on the genome of bacteriophage D3. N-terminal protein sequence data obtained from automated Edman degradation (16 cycles) of purified repressor protein were identical to the predicted sequence based on DNA sequence analysis of the c1 open reading frame.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Serine to cysteine mutations in trp repressor protein alter tryptophan and operator binding.

The tryptophan repressor regulates expression of the aroH, trpEDCBA, and trpR operons in Escherichia coli. The protein contains no cysteine residues, and the presence of this reactive side chain would allow introduction of spectral probes to monitor binding reactions. Three mutant trp aporepressors, each with a point mutation from serine to cysteine, were produced at positions 67, 86, and 88 by oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis. This single conservative substitution affected both tryptophan and operator DNA affinities in all three purified proteins. Cysteine substitution for serine at position 67 decreased tryptophan binding by approximately 6-fold and the operator DNA affinity by approximately 50-fold. The proximity of this amino acid to Gln-68 which is involved in binding to operator DNA (Otwinowski, Z., Schevitz, R. W., Zhang, R.-G., Lawson, C. L., Joachimiak, A., Marmorstein, R. Q., Luisi, B. F., and Sigler, P. B. (1988) Nature 335, 321-329) may account for this effect. Substitution at position 86 diminished tryptophan binding by approximately 4-fold and operator DNA binding by approximately 130-fold. The participation of Ser-86 in the hydrogen bond network required for operator binding (Otwinowski, Z., Schevitz, R. W., Zhang, R.-G., Lawson, C. L., Joachimiak, A., Marmorstein, R. Q., Luisi, B. F., and Sigler, P. B. (1988) Nature 335, 321-329) presumably accounts for the DNA binding effects. The diminished corepressor activity in these two mutants may derive from distortions of the binding region, as the tryptophan and DNA binding sites are intimately related. The mutation at position 88 altered tryptophan binding the most of the three mutants (approximately 18-fold) and operator binding least (approximately 12-fold). Ser-88 forms a hydrogen bond with the amino group of bound tryptophan (Schevitz, R. W., Otwinowski, Z., Joachimiak, A., Lawson, C. L., and Sigler, P. B. (1985) Nature 317, 782-786), and alteration of the geometry of the side chain would be anticipated to perturb the topology of the binding site. The diminished operator affinity may derive from improper alignment of the tryptophan ligand, crucial for high affinity operator binding (Otwinowski, Z., Schevitz, R. W., Zhang, R.-G., Lawson, C. L., Joachimiak, A., Marmorstein, R. Q., Luisi, B. F., and Sigler, P. B. (1988) Nature 335, 321-329).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Two-dimensional IR correlation spectroscopy: sequential events in the unfolding process of the lambda cro-V55C repressor protein.

A question often posed in protein folding/unfolding studies is whether the process is fully cooperative or whether it contains sequential elements. To address this question, one needs tools capable of resolving different events. It seems that, at least in certain cases, two-dimensional (2D) IR correlation spectroscopy can provide answers to this question. To illustrate this point, we have turned to the Cro-V55C dimer of the lambda Cro repressor, a protein known to undergo thermal unfolding in two discrete steps through a stable equilibrium intermediate. The secondary structure of this intermediate is compatible with that of a partially unfolded protein and involves a reorganization of the N terminus, whereas the antiparallel beta-ribbon formed by the C-terminal part of each subunit remains largely intact. To establish whether the unfolding process involves sequential events, we have performed a 2D correlation analysis of IR spectra recorded over the temperature range of 20-95 degrees C. The 2D IR correlation analysis indeed provides evidence for a sequential formation of the stable intermediate, which is created in three (closely related) steps. A first step entails the unfolding of the short N-terminal beta-strand, followed by the unfolding of the alpha-helices in a second step, and the third step comprises the reorganization of the remaining beta-sheet and of some unordered segments in the protein. The complete unfolding of the stable intermediate at higher temperatures also undergoes sequential events that ultimately end with the breaking of the H bonds between the two beta-strands at the dimer interface.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Stat3 in resident macrophages as a repressor protein of inflammatory response.

Inflammation is counterbalanced by anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10, in which Stat3 mediates the signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrate that resident macrophages, but not other cell types, are important targets of IL-10 in a murine model of acute peritonitis. Injection of thioglycollate i.p. induced a considerable number of neutrophils and macrophages in the peritoneum, which was significantly augmented in mice with a cell-type specific disruption of the Stat3 gene in macrophages and neutrophils (LysMcre/Stat3flox/- mice). The augmented leukocyte infiltration was accompanied by increased peritoneal levels of TNF-alpha, MIP-2, KC chemokine (KC), and MCP-1/CCL2. Stat3 was tyrosine phosphorylated in peritoneal resident macrophages as well as infiltrating leukocytes in the littermate controls, suggesting that Stat3 in either or both of these cells might play a regulatory role in inflammation. The peritoneal levels of TNF-alpha, MIP-2, KC, and MCP-1 were similarly elevated in LysMcre/Stat3flox/- mice rendered leukopenic by cyclophosphamide treatment as compared with the controls. Adoptive transfer of resident macrophages from LysMcre/Stat3flox/- mice into the control littermates resulted in increases in the peritoneal level of TNF-alpha, MIP-2, KC, and MCP-1 after i.p. injection of thioglycollate. Under these conditions, control littermates harboring LysMcre/Stat3flox/- macrophages exhibited an augmented leukocyte infiltration relative to those received control macrophages. Taken together, these data provide evidence that resident macrophages, but not other cell types, play a regulatory role in inflammation through a Stat3 signaling pathway. Stat3 in resident macrophages appears to function as a repressor protein in this model of acute inflammation.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Identification of a homolog of CcpA catabolite repressor protein in Streptococcus mutans.

A locus containing a gene with homology to ccpA of other bacteria has been cloned from Streptococcus mutans LT11, sequenced, and named regM. Upstream of the regM gene, on the opposite strand, is a gene encoding an X-Pro dipeptidase, pepQ. A 14-bp palindromic sequence with homology to the consensus catabolite-responsive element sequence lay in the promoter region between the two genes. To study the function of regM, the gene was inactivated by insertion of an antibiotic resistance marker. Diauxic growth of S. mutans on a number of sugars in the presence of glucose was not affected by disruption of regM. The loss of RegM increased glucose repression of alpha-galactosidase, mannitol-1-P dehydrogenase, and P-beta-galactosidase activities. These results suggest that while RegM can affect catabolite repression in S. mutans, it does not conform to the model proposed for CcpA in Bacillus subtilis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

AP-1 repressor protein JDP-2: inhibition of UV-mediated apoptosis through p53 down-regulation.

Members of the AP-1 transcription factor family, especially c-Jun and c-Fos, have long been known to mediate critical steps in the cellular response to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. We sought to examine whether two newly discovered members of the AP-1 family, JDP-1 and JDP-2, also participate in the mammalian UV response. Here we report that JDP-2, but not JDP-1, is transiently induced upon UV challenge and that elevated levels of JDP-2 increase cell survival following UV exposure. This protective function of JDP-2 appears to be mediated through repression of p53 expression at the transcriptional level, via a conserved atypical AP-1 site in the p53 promoter.

3T3 Cells↗

A cis-acting element present in multiple genes serves as a repressor protein binding site for the yeast CAR1 gene.

Induction of the arginase (CAR1) gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has previously been shown to require participation of a cis-dominantly regulated upstream repression sequence (URS). Deletion of this element results in high-level expression of the CAR1 gene without inducer. To determine the structure of the CAR1 URS element, we performed a saturation mutagenesis. Results of the mutagenic analysis indicated that the CAR1 URS was a 9-base-pair palindromic sequence, 5'-AGCCGCCGA-3'. A DNA fragment containing this sequence was shown to bind one or more proteins by a gel shift assay. DNA fragments containing point mutations that completely eliminated URS function were not effective competitors in this assay, whereas those which supported URS function were effective competitors. Sequences in the 5'-flanking regions of 14 other genes were found to be homologous to the CAR1 URS. These sequences were shown to support varying degrees of URS function in the expression vector assay, to bind protein as demonstrated by the gel shift assay, and to compete with a DNA fragment containing the CAR1 URS for protein binding. These results indicate that the CAR1 URS element possesses the characteristics of a repressor binding site. Further, they are consistent with the suggestion that sites homologous to the CAR1 URS may be situated in the 5'-flanking regions of multiple unrelated yeast genes. The widespread occurrence of this element raises the possibility that it is the target site for one or more negatively acting general transcription factors.

Arginase↗

Dissociation of the lactose repressor protein tetramer using high hydrostatic pressure.

Dissociation of lac repressor tetramer by high hydrostatic pressures was monitored with intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. With the assumption of complete dissociation to monomer, tryptophan polarization data gave delta V a approximately 170 mL/mol and the concentration for 50% tetramer dissociation, C1/2, was 3.8 X 10(-8) M. Upon addition of inducer, the calculated delta V a increased to approximately 220 mL/mol and the C1/2 decreased to approximately 1 X 10(-8) M, a free energy difference of approximately 0.7 kcal. These results indicate a modest stabilization of the tetramer by the presence of inducer. Monitoring the average energy of tryptophan emission demonstrated that tetramer dissociation takes place over the same range of pressures as evidenced by the polarization data and IPTG dissociation can be more or less superimposed upon tetramer dissociation depending upon the ligand concentration used. Although the two transitions cannot be separated entirely, the delta V a for the region of the pressure dependence dominated by ligand dissociation was 69 mL/mol, an unexpectedly large value. For tetramer modified with methyl methanethiosulfonate, subunit dissociation was shifted to much higher pressures and IPTG dissociation did not occur. The delta V a for subunit association was calculated as approximately 160 mL/mol, and the C1/2 was 3.5 X 10(-9) M. Interactions at the subunit interface of the modified protein are apparently stronger than in the unmodified protein. The absence of inducer dissociation from the MMTS-modified tetramer by the application of high hydrostatic pressure suggests that the volume change for inducer binding to the modified protein is much smaller than that observed for the unmodified repressor.

Escherichia coli↗

The WRPW motif of the hairy-related basic helix-loop-helix repressor proteins acts as a 4-amino-acid transcription repression and protein-protein interaction domain.

Hairy-related proteins include the Drosophila Hairy and Enhancer of Split proteins and mammalian Hes proteins. These proteins are basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional repressors that control cell fate decisions such as neurogenesis or myogenesis in both Drosophila melanogaster and mammals. Hairy-related proteins are site-specific DNA-binding proteins defined by the presence of both a repressor-specific bHLH DNA binding domain and a carboxyl-terminal WRPW (Trp-Arg-Pro-Trp) motif. These proteins act as repressors by binding to DNA sites in target gene promoters and not by interfering with activator proteins, indicating that these proteins are active repressors which should therefore have specific repression domains. Here we show the WRPW motif to be a functional transcriptional repression domain sufficient to confer active repression to Hairy-related proteins or a heterologous DNA-binding protein, Ga14. This motif was previously shown to be necessary for interactions with Groucho, a genetically defined corepressor for Drosophila Hairy-related proteins. Here we show that the WRPW motif is sufficient to recruit Groucho or the TLE mammalian homologs to target gene promoters. We also show that Groucho and TLE proteins actively repress transcription when directly bound to a target gene promoter and identify a novel, highly conserved transcriptional repression domain in these proteins. These results directly demonstrate that Groucho family proteins are active transcriptional corepressors for Hairy-related proteins and are recruited by the 4-amino acid protein-protein interaction domain, WRPW.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Extrinsic interactions dominate helical propensity in coupled binding and folding of the lactose repressor protein hinge helix.

A significant number of eukaryotic regulatory proteins are predicted to have disordered regions. Many of these proteins bind DNA, which may serve as a template for protein folding. Similar behavior is seen in the prokaryotic LacI/GalR family of proteins that couple hinge-helix folding with DNA binding. These hinge regions form short alpha-helices when bound to DNA but appear to be disordered in other states. An intriguing question is whether and to what degree intrinsic helix propensity contributes to the function of these proteins. In addition to its interaction with operator DNA, the LacI hinge helix interacts with the hinge helix of the homodimer partner as well as to the surface of the inducer-binding domain. To explore the hierarchy of these interactions, we made a series of substitutions in the LacI hinge helix at position 52, the only site in the helix that does not interact with DNA and/or the inducer-binding domain. The substitutions at V52 have significant effects on operator binding affinity and specificity, and several substitutions also impair functional communication with the inducer-binding domain. Results suggest that helical propensity of amino acids in the hinge region alone does not dominate function; helix-helix packing interactions appear to also contribute. Further, the data demonstrate that variation in operator sequence can overcome side chain effects on hinge-helix folding and/or hinge-hinge interactions. Thus, this system provides a direct example whereby an extrinsic interaction (DNA binding) guides internal events that influence folding and functionality.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Interaction of the Escherichia coli Gal repressor protein with its DNA operators in vitro.

The binding of Escherichia coli Gal repressor to linear DNA fragments containing two binding sites (OE and OI) within the gal operon was analyzed in vitro with quantitative footprint and mobility-shift techniques. In vivo analysis of the regulation of the gal operon [Haber, R., & Adhya, S. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 9683-9687] has suggested the role of a regulatory "looped complex" mediated by the association of Gal repressor dimers bound at OE and OI. The binding of Gal repressor to a single site can be described by a model in which monomer and dimer are in equilibrium and only the dimer binds to DNA. At pH 7.0, 25 mM KCl, and 20 degrees C, the binding and dimerization free energies are comparable, suggesting that the equilibrium governing the formation of dimers may be important to regulation. The two intrinsic binding constants, delta GI and delta GE, and a constant describing cooperativity, delta GIE, were determined by footprint titration analysis as a function of pH, [KCl], and temperature. Only at 4 and 0 degrees C was delta GIE negative, signifying cooperative binding. These results are thought to be due to a weak dimer to tetramer association interface. delta GE and delta GI had maximal values between pH 6 and pH 7. The dependence of these constants on [KCl] corresponded to the displacement of approximately 2 ion equiv. The temperature dependence could be described by a change in the heat capacity, delta Cp, of -2.3 kcal mol-1 deg-1. Mobility-shift titration experiments conducted at 20 and 0 degrees C yielded values for delta GIE that were consistent with those resolved from the footprint analysis. Unique values of delta GIE were determined by analysis of mobility-shift titrations of Gal repressor with wild-type operator subject to the constraint that delta GE = delta GI: a procedure that eliminates the need to simultaneously analyze wild-type titrations with titrations of OE- and OI- operators.

Base Sequence↗