Methylation-sensitive sequence-specific DNA binding by the c-Myc basic region

The function of the c-Myc oncoprotein and its role in cell growth control is unclear. A basic region of c-Myc is structurally related to the basic motifs of helix-loop-helix (HLH) and leucine zipper proteins, which provide sequence-specific DNA binding function. The c-Myc basic region was tested for its ability to bind DNA by attaching it to the HLH dimerization interface of the E12 enhancer binding factor. Dimers of the chimeric protein, termed E6, specifically bound an E box element (GGCCACGTGACC) recognized by other HLH proteins in a manner dependent on the integrity of the c-Myc basic motif. Methylation of the core CpG in the E box recognition site specifically inhibited binding by E6, but not by two other HLH proteins. Expression of E6 (but not an E6 DNA binding mutant) suppressed the ability of c-myc to cooperate with H-ras in a rat embryo fibroblast transformation assay, suggesting that the DNA recognition specificity of E6 is related to that of c-Myc in vivo.     

Binding of the Wilms' tumor locus zinc finger protein to the EGR-1 consensus sequence

The Wilms' tumor locus (WTL) at 11p13 contains a gene that encodes a zinc finger-containing protein that has characteristics of a DNA-binding protein. However, binding of this protein to DNA in a sequence-specific manner has not been demonstrated. A synthetic gene was constructed that contained the zinc finger region, and the protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was used to identify a specific DNA binding site from a pool of degenerate oligonucleotides. The binding sites obtained were similar to the sequence recognized by the early growth response-1 (EGR-1) gene product, a zinc finger-containing protein that is induced by mitogenic stimuli. A mutation in the zinc finger region of the protein originally identified in a Wilms' tumor patient abolished its DNA-binding activity. These results suggest that the WTL protein may act at the DNA binding site of a growth factor-inducible gene and that loss of DNA-binding activity contributes to the tumorigenic process.     

Scissors-grip model for DNA recognition by a family of leucine zipper proteins

C/EBP is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein that regulates gene expression in certain mammalian cells. The region of the C/EBP polypeptide required for specific recognition of DNA is related in amino acid sequence to other regulatory proteins, including the Fos and Jun transforming proteins. It has been proposed that these proteins bind DNA via a bipartite structural motif, consisting of a dimerization interface termed the "leucine zipper" and a DNA contact surface termed the "basic region." An evaluation of the properties of conserved amino acids within the basic region of 11 deduced protein sequences, coupled with the observation that they are located at an invariant distance from the leucine zipper, has led to the formulation of a "scissors-grip" model for DNA binding. The architectural features of this model are well suited for interaction with directly abutted, dyadsymmetric DNA sequences. Data supportive of the model were obtained with chemical probes of protein: DNA complexes.     

Synthesis of a sequence-specific DNA-cleaving peptide

A synthetic 52-residue peptide based on the sequence-specific DNA-binding domain of Hin recombinase (139-190) has been equipped with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at the amino terminus. In the presence of Fe(II), this synthetic EDTA-peptide cleaves DNA at Hin recombination sites. The cleavage data reveal that the amino terminus of Hin(139-190) is bound in the minor groove of DNA near the symmetry axis of Hin recombination sites. This work demonstrates the construction of a hybrid peptide combining two functional domains: sequence-specific DNA binding and DNA cleavage.     

Unwinding of duplex DNA from the SV40 origin of replication by T antigen

The T antigen specified by SV40 virus is the only viral-encoded protein required for replication of SV40 DNA. T antigen has two activities that appear to be essential for viral DNA replication: specific binding to duplex DNA at the origin of replication and helicase activity that unwinds the two DNA strands. As judged by electron microscopy, DNA unwinding is initiated at the origin of replication and proceeds bidirectionally. Either linear or circular DNA molecules containing the origin of replication are effective substrates; with closed circular DNA, a topoisomerase capable of removing positive superhelical turns is required for an efficient reaction. Presence of an origin sequence on duplex DNA and a single-strand DNA-binding protein appear to be the only requirements for T antigen to catalyze unwinding. This reaction mediated by T antigen defines a likely pathway to precise initiation of DNA replication: (i) the sequence-specific binding activity locates the origin sequence, (ii) the duplex DNA is unwound at this site, and (iii) the DNA polymerase and primase begin DNA replication. A similar pathway has been inferred for the localized initiation of DNA replication by bacteriophage lambda and by Escherichia coli in which a sequence-specific binding protein locates the origin and directs the DnaB helicase to this site. Observations with the SV40 system indicate that localized initiation of duplex DNA replication may be similar for prokaryotes and eukaryotes.     

A chemically synthesized Antennapedia homeo domain binds to a specific DNA sequence

A peptide 60 residues in length that corresponds to the homeo domain of Antennapedia (Antp), a protein governing development in Drosophila, was synthesized by segment condensation with protected peptide segments prepared on an oxime resin. A footprinting assay showed that the homeo domain binds specifically to a TAA repeat DNA sequence in the Antp gene. Thus the Antp homeo domain has a sequence-specific DNA binding property. The circular dichroism spectra of the homeo domain peptide showed the presence of a significant amount of alpha-helical structure in aqueous solution and in 50 percent trifluoroethanol. The alpha helicity measured in water appears to depend on the peptide concentration, which suggests that the peptide aggregates. These results support the hypothesis that the homeo domain binds to DNA through a helix-turn-helix motif.     

ERF转录因子StERF1的生物信息学分析

从生物信息资源中寻找有重要功能的新ERF基因,命名为StERF1,用生物信息学方法对其主要理化性质和功能进行分析预测,为下一步的试验策略提供参考。StERF1编码一个由247个氨基酸组成的相对分子质量为27203.9的蛋白质,该蛋白具有一个由58个氨基酸残基组成的保守ERF结构域(112～169),在N端有一个可能起激活作用的酸性结构域,在C端有一个可能作为核定位信号(NLS)的碱性结构域,它可以结合GCC-box顺式作用元件,推测StERF1是一个定位在核内发挥转录激活作用的ERF转录因子。它可能在调控植物乙烯信号途径、生物胁迫或非生物胁迫应答过程发挥重要作用。     

扶桑绵粉蚧钙调蛋白基因的克隆与生物信息学分析

钙调蛋白(calmodulin,CaM)对生物体内多种Ca2+依赖的细胞功能和酶体系都有重要的调节作用。为研究扶桑绵粉蚧的信号转导受体蛋白,首次克隆了扶桑绵粉蚧钙调蛋白基因PsCaM的cDNA全长序列,其开放阅读框(ORF)包含447bp的片段,编码148个氨基酸。PsCaM基因由3个内含子和4个外显子组成。3个内含子的长度分别为73、81、72bp,分隔的4个外显子的长度分别为33、133、183、98bp。功能域分析结果显示:该蛋白具有2个EF-hand结构域,有13个Ca2+结合位点;该蛋白的理论等电点是6.21,属于稳定蛋白,且没有跨膜区域;通过同源建模获得了其蛋白的三维结构。多序列比较显示,PsCaM基因相对较保守。