title: DNA binding, multimerization, and transcription stimulation by the Xenopus Y box proteins in vitro.
abstract: The Y box factors bind to a specific DNA sequence (the Y box, containing a reverse CCAAT element) and have been implicated in the regulation of transcription. We have used deletion mutagenesis to define the protein domains of two Xenopus Y box factors, FRG Y1 and FRG Y2, that are essential for DNA binding, multimerization, and transcription. A domain of the Y box factors homologous to an Escherichia coli cold shock protein is required for DNA binding. Both the E. coli protein and the Y box factors recognize DNA sequences with similar selectivity. The conserved region between these proteins does not contain any previously defined DNA-binding motifs. The hydrophilic C-terminal tail of the proteins contributes to the assembly of nucleoprotein complexes. This region contains an unusual pattern of basic and acidic amino acids and represents a new type of domain mediating protein-protein interactions in transcription factors. Both the DNA-binding and the multimerization domains are important for stimulating transcription from the Xenopus hsp70 promoter in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Tafuri
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Wolffe
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA