scholarly journals Structure of the N-terminal domain of the protein Expansion: an `Expansion' to the Smad MH2 fold

2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 844-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mads Beich-Frandsen ◽  
Eric Aragón ◽  
Marta Llimargas ◽  
Jordi Benach ◽  
Antoni Riera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Protein Interaction ◽  
Signalling Pathway ◽  
Interaction Site ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Smad Proteins ◽  
Helical Region

Gene-expression changes observed inDrosophilaembryos after inducing the transcription factor Tramtrack led to the identification of the protein Expansion. Expansion contains an N-terminal domain similar in sequence to the MH2 domain characteristic of Smad proteins, which are the central mediators of the effects of the TGF-β signalling pathway. Apart from Smads and Expansion, no other type of protein belonging to the known kingdoms of life contains MH2 domains. To compare the Expansion and Smad MH2 domains, the crystal structure of the Expansion domain was determined at 1.6 Å resolution, the first structure of a non-Smad MH2 domain to be characterized to date. The structure displays the main features of the canonical MH2 fold with two main differences: the addition of an α-helical region and the remodelling of a protein-interaction site that is conserved in the MH2 domain of Smads. Owing to these differences, to the new domain was referred to as Nα-MH2. Despite the presence of the Nα-MH2 domain, Expansion does not participate in TGF-β signalling; instead, it is required for other activities specific to the protostome phyla. Based on the structural similarities to the MH2 fold, it is proposed that the Nα-MH2 domain should be classified as a new member of the Smad/FHA superfamily.

scholarly journals Role for a YY1-Binding Element in Replication-Dependent Mouse Histone Gene Expression

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 7106-7118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Eliassen ◽  
Amy Baldwin ◽  
Eric M. Sikorski ◽  
Myra M. Hurt
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Protein Interaction ◽  
Histone Gene ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Histone Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Protein Interaction

ABSTRACT Expression of the highly conserved replication-dependent histone gene family increases dramatically as a cell enters the S phase of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Requirements for normal histone gene expression in vivo include an element, designated α, located within the protein-encoding sequence of nucleosomal histone genes. Mutation of 5 of 7 nucleotides of the mouse H3.2 α element to yield the sequence found in an H3.3 replication-independent variant abolishes the DNA-protein interaction in vitro and reduces expression fourfold in vivo. A yeast one-hybrid screen of a HeLa cell cDNA library identified the protein responsible for recognition of the histone H3.2 α sequence as the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1). YY1 is a ubiquitous and highly conserved transcription factor reported to be involved in both activation and repression of gene expression. Here we report that the in vitro histone α DNA-protein interaction depends on YY1 and that mutation of the nucleotides required for the in vitro histone α DNA-YY1 interaction alters the cell cycle phase-specific up-regulation of the mouse H3.2 gene in vivo. Because all mutations or deletions of the histone α sequence both abolish interactions in vitro and cause an in vivo decrease in histone gene expression, the recognition of the histone α element by YY1 is implicated in the correct temporal regulation of replication-dependent histone gene expression in vivo.

Oxygen sensing and hypoxia-induced responses

2007 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew L. Coleman ◽  
Peter J. Ratcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Oxygen Sensing ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Signalling Pathway ◽  
Adaptation To Hypoxia ◽  
Induced Responses ◽  
Intracellular Proteins ◽  
Multicellular Organisms ◽  
Direct Incorporation

Low cellular oxygenation (hypoxia) represents a significant threat to the viability of affected tissues. Multicellular organisms have evolved a highly conserved signalling pathway that directs many of the changes in gene expression that underpin physiological oxygen homoeostasis. Oxygen-sensing enzymes in this pathway control the activity of the HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) transcription factor by the direct incorporation of molecular oxygen into the post-translational hydroxylation of specific residues. This represents the canonical hypoxia signalling pathway which regulates a plethora of genes involved in adaptation to hypoxia. The HIF hydroxylases have been identified in other biological contexts, consistent with the possibility that they have other substrates. Furthermore, several intracellular proteins have been demonstrated, directly or indirectly, to be hydroxylated, although the protein hydroxylases responsible have yet to be identified. This chapter will summarize what is currently known about the canonical HIF hydroxylase signalling pathway and will speculate on the existence of other oxygen-sensing enzymes and the role they may play in signalling hypoxia through other pathways.

scholarly journals Structural basis of hypoxic gene regulation by the Rv0081 transcription factor ofMycobacterium tuberculosis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwani Kumar ◽  
Swastik Phulera ◽  
Arshad Rizvi ◽  
Parshuram Sonawane ◽  
Hemendra Singh Panwar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Latent Phase

ABSTRACTThe transcription factor Rv0081 ofM. tuberculosiscontrols the hypoxic gene expression and acts as a regulatory hub in the latent phase of tuberculosis infection. We report here the crystal structure of Rv0081 at 3.3 Å resolution revealing that it belongs to the well-known ArsR/SmtB family proteins. ArsR/SmtB family transcriptional repressors exert gene regulation by reversible metal binding. Hypoxia in general is sensed by bacterial transcriptional regulators via metals or Cys-mediated thiol switches. Oxygen sensing typically leads to transcriptional repressor changing its conformational state with altered DNA-binding property under different oxygen levels. Surprisingly Rv0081 neither has a metal binding domain nor does it possess Cys residues suggesting an alternate mechanism of gene regulation. Our structural analysis identified Ser 48, Ser 49, Ser 52 and Gln 53 as potential residues of Rv0081 involved in DNA binding. We probed DNA-binding of Rv0081 with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) as well as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), where the Alanine mutants of these residues showed diminished DNA binding. Similarly, Aspartate mutants of these Ser residues was shown to fail to bind to DNA. Since, phosphorylation of various regulatory proteins is one of the important controlling mechanisms, we expected the role of Ser-phosphorylation of Rv0081 in hypoxic condition. Probing Rv0081 with anti-phosphoserine antibodies inM. tuberculosiscell lysate showed marked enhancement in the phosphorylation of Rv0081 protein under hypoxia. Overall, our structural and biochemical analysis provides the molecular basis for the regulation of Rv0081 in the latent phase of tuberculosis infection.IMPORTANCETuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases caused by the bacteriumMycobacterium tuberculosis. In about 90% of the infected people,M. tuberculosisexists in a dormant or a latent stage which can be reactivated in favorable conditions. Hypoxia (low oxygen pressure) is one of causes of dormancy. Understanding hypoxic gene regulation inM. tuberculosisis therefore an important step to understand latency. Rv0081 is a transcriptional regulator of genes expressed during hypoxia. In order to understand the mechanism by which Rv00081 regulates gene expression during hypoxia, we have solved the crystal structure of Rv0081 and identified amino acid residues which are critical in its transcriptional regulator activity. The crystal structure is suggestive of mechanism of gene regulation under hypoxia.

scholarly journals The transcription factor NKX2-2 regulates oligodendrocyte differentiation through domain-specific interactions with transcriptional corepressors

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (7) ◽  
pp. 1879-1888
Author(s):  
Chengfu Zhang ◽  
Hao Huang ◽  
Zhen Chen ◽  
Zunyi Zhang ◽  
Wenwen Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Structural Domains ◽  
Histone Deacetylase 1 ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Transcriptional Corepressors

The homeodomain protein NK2 homeobox 2 (NKX2-2) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the control of cell fate specification and differentiation in many tissues. In the developing central nervous system, this developmentally important transcription factor functions as a transcriptional repressor that governs oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and myelin gene expression, but the roles of various NKX2-2 structural domains in this process are unclear. In this study, using in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and coimmunoprecipitation, we determined the structural domains that mediate the repressive functions of murine NKX2-2 and identified the transcriptional corepressors that interact with it in OL cells. Through in ovo electroporation in embryonic chicken spinal cords, we demonstrate that the N-terminal Tinman domain and C-terminal domain synergistically promote OL differentiation by recruiting distinct transcriptional corepressors, including enhancer of split Groucho 3 (GRG3), histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), and DNA methyltransferase 3 α (DNMT3A). We also observed that the NK2-specific domain suppresses the function of the C-terminal domain in OL differentiation. These findings delineate the distinct NKX2-2 domains and their roles in OL differentiation and suggest that NKX2-2 regulates differentiation by repressing gene expression via multiple cofactors and molecular mechanisms.

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