scholarly journals A 10-amino-acid sequence in the N-terminal A/B domain of thyroid hormone receptor alpha is essential for transcriptional activation and interaction with the general transcription factor TFIIB.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 4507-4517 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Hadzic ◽  
V Desai-Yajnik ◽  
E Helmer ◽  
S Guo ◽  
S Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Receptor ◽  
Alpha Helix ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Binding Studies

The effects of the thyroid hormone (3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine [T3]) on gene transcription are mediated by nuclear T3 receptors (T3Rs). alpha- and beta-isoform T3Rs (T3R alpha and -beta) are expressed from different genes and are members of a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that also includes the receptors for steroid hormones, vitamin D, and retinoids. Although T3 activates transcription by mediating a conformational change in the C-terminal approximately 220-amino-acid ligand-binding domain (LBD), the fundamental mechanisms of T3R-mediated transcriptional activation remain to be determined. We found that deletion of the 50-amino-acid N-terminal A/B domain of chicken T3R alpha (cT3R alpha) decreases T3-dependent stimulation of genes regulated by native thyroid hormone response elements about 10- to 20-fold. The requirement of the A/B region for transcriptional activation was mapped to amino acids 21 to 30, which contain a cluster of five basic amino acids. The A/B region of cT3R alpha is not required for T3 binding or for DNA binding of the receptor as a heterodimer with retinoid X receptor. In vitro binding studies indicate that the N-terminal region of cT3R alpha interacts efficiently with TFIIB and that this interaction requires amino acids 21 to 30 of the A/B region. In contrast, the LBD interacts poorly with TFIIB. The region of TFIIB primarily involved in the binding of cT3R alpha includes an amphipathic alpha helix contained within residues 178 to 201. Analysis using a fusion protein containing the DNA-binding domain of GAL4 and the entire A/B region of cT3R alpha suggests that this region does not contain an intrinsic activation domain. These and other studies indicate that cT3R alpha mediates at least some of its effects through TFIIB in vivo and that the N-terminal region of DNA-bound cT3R alpha acts to recruit and/or stabilize the binding of TFIIB to the transcription complex. T3 stimulation could then result from ligand-mediated changes in the LBD which may lead to the interaction of other factors with cT3R alpha, TFIIB, and/or other components involved in the initiation of transcription.

scholarly journals An Inhibitory Region of the DNA-Binding Domain of Thyroid Hormone Receptor Blocks Hormone-Dependent Transactivation

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Liu ◽  
Akira Takeshita ◽  
Takashi Nagaya ◽  
Aria Baniahmad ◽  
William W. Chin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Receptor ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Chimeric Receptor ◽  
Receptor System ◽  
Inhibitory Region

Abstract We have employed a chimeric receptor system in which we cotransfected yeast GAL4 DNA-binding domain/retinoid X receptor β ligand-binding domain chimeric receptor (GAL4RXR), thyroid hormone receptor-β (TRβ), and upstream activating sequence-reporter plasmids into CV-1 cells to study repression, derepression, and transcriptional activation. In the absence of T3, unliganded TR repressed transcription to 20% of basal level, and in the presence of T3, liganded TRβ derepressed transcription to basal level. Using this system and a battery of TRβ mutants, we found that TRβ/RXR heterodimer formation is necessary and sufficient for basal repression and derepression in this system. Additionally, an AF-2 domain mutant (E457A) mediated basal repression but not derepression, suggesting that interaction with a putative coactivator at this site may be critical for derepression. Interestingly, a mutant containing only the TRβ ligand binding domain (LBD) not only mediated derepression, but also stimulated transcriptional activation 10-fold higher than basal level. Studies using deletion and domain swap mutants localized an inhibitory region to the TRβ DNA-binding domain. Titration studies further suggested that allosteric changes promoting interaction with coactivators may account for enhanced transcriptional activity by LBD. In summary, our findings suggest that TR heterodimer formation with RXR is important for repression and derepression, and coactivator interaction with the AF-2 domain may be needed for derepression in this chimeric system. Additionally, there may be an inhibitory region in the DNA-binding domain, which reduces TR interaction with coactivators, and prevents full-length wild-type TRβ from achieving transcriptional activation above basal level in this chimeric receptor system.

scholarly journals Identification of amino acids essential for DNA binding and dimerization in p67SRF: implications for a novel DNA-binding motif

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132
Author(s):  
A D Sharrocks ◽  
H Gille ◽  
P E Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Serum Response Factor ◽  
Alpha Helix ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Amino Acid Peptide ◽  
Serum Response

The serum response factor (p67SRF) binds to a palindromic sequence in the c-fos serum response element (SRE). A second protein, p62TCF binds in conjunction with p67SRF to form a ternary complex, and it is through this complex that growth factor-induced transcriptional activation of c-fos is thought to take place. A 90-amino-acid peptide, coreSRF, is capable for dimerizing, binding DNA, and recruiting p62TCF. By using extensive site-directed mutagenesis we have investigated the role of individual coreSRF amino acids in DNA binding. Mutant phenotypes were defined by gel retardation and cross-linking analyses. Our results have identified residues essential for either DNA binding or dimerization. Three essential basic amino acids whose conservative mutation severely reduced DNA binding were identified. Evidence which is consistent with these residues being on the face of a DNA binding alpha-helix is presented. A phenylalanine residue and a hexameric hydrophobic box are identified as essential for dimerization. The amino acid phasing is consistent with the dimerization interface being presented as a continuous region on a beta-strand. A putative second alpha-helix acts as a linker between these two regions. This study indicates that p67SRF is a member of a protein family which, in common with many DNA binding proteins, utilize an alpha-helix for DNA binding. However, this alpha-helix is contained within a novel domain structure.

scholarly journals Identification of amino acids essential for DNA binding and dimerization in p67SRF: implications for a novel DNA-binding motif.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
A D Sharrocks ◽  
H Gille ◽  
P E Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Serum Response Factor ◽  
Alpha Helix ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Amino Acid Peptide ◽  
Serum Response

The serum response factor (p67SRF) binds to a palindromic sequence in the c-fos serum response element (SRE). A second protein, p62TCF binds in conjunction with p67SRF to form a ternary complex, and it is through this complex that growth factor-induced transcriptional activation of c-fos is thought to take place. A 90-amino-acid peptide, coreSRF, is capable for dimerizing, binding DNA, and recruiting p62TCF. By using extensive site-directed mutagenesis we have investigated the role of individual coreSRF amino acids in DNA binding. Mutant phenotypes were defined by gel retardation and cross-linking analyses. Our results have identified residues essential for either DNA binding or dimerization. Three essential basic amino acids whose conservative mutation severely reduced DNA binding were identified. Evidence which is consistent with these residues being on the face of a DNA binding alpha-helix is presented. A phenylalanine residue and a hexameric hydrophobic box are identified as essential for dimerization. The amino acid phasing is consistent with the dimerization interface being presented as a continuous region on a beta-strand. A putative second alpha-helix acts as a linker between these two regions. This study indicates that p67SRF is a member of a protein family which, in common with many DNA binding proteins, utilize an alpha-helix for DNA binding. However, this alpha-helix is contained within a novel domain structure.

scholarly journals The C6 zinc finger and adjacent amino acids determine DNA-binding specificity and affinity in the yeast activator proteins LAC9 and PPR1.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 5128-5137 ◽  
Author(s):  
M M Witte ◽  
R C Dickson
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Binding Specificity ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
Transcription Activator ◽  
Activator Proteins ◽  
Dna Binding Specificity

LAC9 is a DNA-binding protein that regulates transcription of the lactose-galactose regulon in Kluyveromyces lactis. The DNA-binding domain is composed of a zinc finger and nearby amino acids (M. M. Witte and R. C. Dickson, Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:3726-3733, 1988). The single zinc finger appears to be structurally related to the zinc finger of many other fungal transcription activator proteins that contain positively charged residues and six conserved cysteines with the general form Cys-Xaa2-Cys-Xaa6-Cys-Xaa6-9-Cys-Xaa2-Cys-Xaa 6-Cys, where Xaan indicates a stretch of the indicated number of any amino acids (R. M. Evans and S. M. Hollenberg, Cell 52:1-3, 1988). The function(s) of the zinc finger and other amino acids in DNA-binding remains unclear. To determine which portion of the LAC9 DNA-binding domain mediates sequence recognition, we replaced the C6 zinc finger, amino acids adjacent to the carboxyl side of the zinc finger, or both with the analogous region from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PPR1 or LEU3 protein. A chimeric LAC9 protein, LAC9(PPR1 34-61), carrying only the PPR1 zinc finger, retained the DNA-binding specificity of LAC9. However, LAC9(PPR1 34-75), carrying the PPR1 zinc finger and 14 amino acids on the carboxyl side of the zinc finger, gained the DNA-binding specificity of PPR1, indicating that these 14 amino acids are necessary for specific DNA binding. Our data show that C6 fingers can substitute for each other and allow DNA binding, but binding affinity is reduced. Thus, in a qualitative sense C6 fingers perform a similar function(s). However, the high-affinity binding required by natural C6 finger proteins demands a unique C6 finger with a specific amino acid sequence. This requirement may reflect conformational constraints, including interactions between the C6 finger and the carboxyl-adjacent amino acids; alternatively or in addition, it may indicate that unique, nonconserved amino acid residues in zinc fingers make sequence-specifying or stabilizing contacts with DNA.

A conserved C-terminal sequence that is deleted in v-ErbA is essential for the biological activities of c-ErbA (the thyroid hormone receptor)

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3675-3685
Author(s):  
F Saatcioglu ◽  
P Bartunek ◽  
T Deng ◽  
M Zenke ◽  
M Karin
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Receptor ◽  
Retinoic Acid Receptor ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Transcriptional Interference ◽  
Terminal Sequence

The thyroid hormone (T3) receptor type alpha, the c-ErbA alpha proto-oncoprotein, stimulates transcription of T3-dependent promoters, interferes with AP-1 activity, and induces erythroid differentiation in a ligand-dependent manner. The v-ErbA oncoprotein does not bind hormone and has lost all of these activities. Using c-ErbA/v-ErbA chimeras, we found that a deletion of 9 amino acids, conserved among many members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which are located at the extreme carboxy terminus of c-ErbA alpha is responsible for loss of both transactivation and transcriptional interference activities. Single, double, and triple amino acid substitutions within this region completely abolished T3-dependent transcriptional activation, interference with AP-1 activity, and decreased T3 binding by c-ErbA alpha. However, the lower T3 binding by these mutants does not fully account for the loss of transactivation and transcriptional interference, since a c-ErbA/v-ErbA chimera which was similarly reduced in T3 binding activity has retained both of these functions. Deletion of homologous residues in the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) resulted in a similar loss of transactivation and transcriptional interference activities. The ability of c-ErbA alpha to induce differentiation of transformed erythroblasts is also impaired by all of the mutations introduced into the conserved carboxy-terminal sequence. We conclude that this 9-amino-acid conserved region is essential for normal biological function of c-ErbA alpha and RAR alpha and possibly other T3 and RA receptors.

A position-dependent transcription-activating domain in TFIIIA

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 7496-7506
Author(s):  
X Mao ◽  
M K Darby
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Dna Binding Domain ◽  
5S Rna

Transcription of the Xenopus 5S RNA gene by RNA polymerase III requires the gene-specific factor TFIIIA. To identify domains within TFIIIA that are essential for transcriptional activation, we have expressed C-terminal deletion, substitution, and insertion mutants of TFIIIA in bacteria as fusions with maltose-binding protein (MBP). The MBP-TFIIIA fusion protein specifically binds to the 5S RNA gene internal control region and complements transcription in a TFIIIA-depleted oocyte nuclear extract. Random, cassette-mediated mutagenesis of the carboxyl region of TFIIIA, which is not required for promoter binding, has defined a 14-amino-acid region that is critical for transcriptional activation. In contrast to activators of RNA polymerase II, the activity of the TFIIIA activation domain is strikingly sensitive to its position relative to the DNA-binding domain. When the eight amino acids that separate the transcription-activating domain from the last zinc finger are deleted, transcriptional activity is lost. Surprisingly, diverse amino acids can replace these eight amino acids with restoration of full transcriptional activity, suggesting that the length and not the sequence of this region is important. Insertion of amino acids between the zinc finger region and the transcription-activating domain causes a reduction in transcription proportional to the number of amino acids introduced. We propose that to function, the transcription-activating domain of TFIIIA must be correctly positioned at a minimum distance from the DNA-binding domain.

scholarly journals A novel orphan receptor specific for a subset of thyroid hormone-responsive elements and its interaction with the retinoid/thyroid hormone receptor subfamily.

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 7025-7035 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Apfel ◽  
D Benbrook ◽  
E Lernhardt ◽  
M A Ortiz ◽  
G Salbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Nuclear Receptors ◽  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Hormone Receptor ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Receptor ◽  
Orphan Receptor ◽  
Retinoid Receptor

The steroid/hormone nuclear receptor superfamily comprises several subfamilies of receptors that interact with overlapping DNA sequences and/or related ligands. The thyroid/retinoid hormone receptor subfamily has recently attracted much interest because of the complex network of its receptor interactions. The retinoid X receptors (RXRs), for instance, play a very central role in this subfamily, forming heterodimers with several receptors. Here we describe a novel member of this subfamily that interacts with RXR. Using a v-erbA probe, we obtained a cDNA which encodes a novel 445-amino-acid protein, RLD-1, that contains the characteristic domains of nuclear receptors. Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that in mature rats, the receptor is highly expressed in spleen, pituitary, lung, liver, and fat. In addition, weaker expression is observed in several other tissues. Amino acid sequence alignment and DNA-binding data revealed that the DNA-binding domain of the new receptor is related to that of the thyroid/retinoid subgroup of nuclear receptors. RLD-1 preferentially binds as a heterodimer with RXR to a direct repeat of the half-site sequence 5'-G/AGGTCA-3', separated by four nucleotides (DR-4). Surprisingly, this binding is dependent to a high degree on the nature of the spacing nucleotides. None of the known nuclear receptor ligands activated RLD-1. In contrast, a DR-4-dependent constitutive transcriptional activation of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene by the RLD-1/RXR alpha heterodimer was observed. Our data suggest a highly specific role for this novel receptor within the network of gene regulation by the thyroid/retinoid receptor subfamily.

scholarly journals A conserved C-terminal sequence that is deleted in v-ErbA is essential for the biological activities of c-ErbA (the thyroid hormone receptor).

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3675-3685 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Saatcioglu ◽  
P Bartunek ◽  
T Deng ◽  
M Zenke ◽  
M Karin
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Receptor ◽  
Retinoic Acid Receptor ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Erythroid Differentiation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Transcriptional Interference ◽  
Terminal Sequence

The thyroid hormone (T3) receptor type alpha, the c-ErbA alpha proto-oncoprotein, stimulates transcription of T3-dependent promoters, interferes with AP-1 activity, and induces erythroid differentiation in a ligand-dependent manner. The v-ErbA oncoprotein does not bind hormone and has lost all of these activities. Using c-ErbA/v-ErbA chimeras, we found that a deletion of 9 amino acids, conserved among many members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, which are located at the extreme carboxy terminus of c-ErbA alpha is responsible for loss of both transactivation and transcriptional interference activities. Single, double, and triple amino acid substitutions within this region completely abolished T3-dependent transcriptional activation, interference with AP-1 activity, and decreased T3 binding by c-ErbA alpha. However, the lower T3 binding by these mutants does not fully account for the loss of transactivation and transcriptional interference, since a c-ErbA/v-ErbA chimera which was similarly reduced in T3 binding activity has retained both of these functions. Deletion of homologous residues in the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) resulted in a similar loss of transactivation and transcriptional interference activities. The ability of c-ErbA alpha to induce differentiation of transformed erythroblasts is also impaired by all of the mutations introduced into the conserved carboxy-terminal sequence. We conclude that this 9-amino-acid conserved region is essential for normal biological function of c-ErbA alpha and RAR alpha and possibly other T3 and RA receptors.

scholarly journals Mutations in the conserved C-terminal sequence in thyroid hormone receptor dissociate hormone-dependent activation from interference with AP-1 activity.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 4687-4695 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Saatcioglu ◽  
G Lopez ◽  
B L West ◽  
E Zandi ◽  
W Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Hormone Receptor ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Receptor ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Terminal Sequence

A short C-terminal sequence that is deleted in the v-ErbA oncoprotein and conserved in members of the nuclear receptor superfamily is required for normal biological function of its normal cellular counterpart, the thyroid hormone receptor alpha (T3R alpha). We carried out an extensive mutational analysis of this region based on the crystal structure of the hormone-bound ligand binding domain of T3R alpha. Mutagenesis of Leu398 or Glu401, which are surface exposed according to the crystal structure, completely blocks or significantly impairs T3-dependent transcriptional activation but does not affect or only partially diminishes interference with AP-1 activity. These are the first mutations that clearly dissociate these activities for T3R alpha. Substitution of Leu400, which is also surface exposed, does not affect interference with AP-1 activity and only partially diminishes T3-dependent transactivation. None of the mutations affect ligand-independent transactivation, consistent with previous findings that this activity is mediated by the N-terminal domain of T3R alpha. The loss of ligand-dependent transactivation for some mutants can largely be reversed in the presence of GRIP1, which acts as a strong ligand-dependent coactivator for wild-type T3R alpha. There is excellent correlation between T3-dependent in vitro association of GRIP1 with T3R alpha mutants and their ability to support T3-dependent transcriptional activation. Therefore, GRIP1, previously found to interact with the glucocorticoid, estrogen, and androgen receptors, may also have a role in T3R alpha-mediated ligand-dependent transcriptional activation. When fused to a heterologous DNA binding domain, that of the yeast transactivator GAL4, the conserved C terminus of T3R alpha functions as a strong ligand-independent activator in both mammalian and yeast cells. However, point mutations within this region have drastically different effects on these activities compared to their effect on the full-length T3R alpha. We conclude that the C-terminal conserved region contains a recognition surface for GRIP1 or a similar coactivator that facilitates its interaction with the basal transcriptional apparatus. While important for ligand-dependent transactivation, this interaction surface is not directly involved in transrepression of AP-1 activity.

scholarly journals tau4/tau c/AF-2 of the thyroid hormone receptor relieves silencing of the retinoic acid receptor silencer core independent of both tau4 activation function and full dissociation of corepressors.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 4259-4271 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Baniahmad ◽  
D Thormeyer ◽  
R Renkawitz
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Hormone Receptors ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Receptor ◽  
Retinoic Acid Receptor ◽  
Activation Function ◽  
Acid Receptor ◽  
C Terminus

Members of the thyroid hormone (TR)-retinoic acid receptor (RAR) subfamily of nuclear hormone receptors silence gene expression in the absence of hormone. Addition of cognate ligands leads to dissociation of corepressors, association of coactivators, and transcriptional activation. Here, we used the hRAR alpha silencer core, which encompasses the ligand binding domain, including receptor regions D and E of RAR alpha without the activation function called tau4/tau c/AF-2 and without the F region, to analyze the mechanisms by which transcriptional silencing is relieved. Although the RAR silencer core is able to bind ligand, it acts as a constitutive transcriptional silencer. We have fused various small activation domains to the C terminus of the silencer core and analyzed hormone-dependent changes in receptor function. We show that nine amino acids derived from the hTRbeta are sufficient to transform the RAR silencer core into a hormone-dependent activator. Lengthening the linker between the silencer core and these nine amino acids is not critical for mediating ligand-induced relief of silencing and activation. In addition, we show that a transactivation function at the C terminus is not required for relief of silencing by the hormone, but it is required for transcriptional activation. Furthermore, we created functional silencer fusions which lose their repressive function upon addition of hormone, although the corepressors SMRT and N-CoR remain attached to the receptor.

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