title: The transcriptional factor Egr-1 is synthesized by baculovirus-infected insect cells in an active, DNA-binding form.
abstract: The Egr-1 (zfp-6) gene encodes a zinc-finger-containing nuclear protein that is rapidly and transiently induced in quiescent cells treated with mitogens. We have constructed baculovirus vectors that synthesize mouse Egr-1 protein initiating at two putative ATG start sites. The ATG site producing the larger protein (Mr, 80,000) is similar, if not identical, to Egr-1 synthesized by serum-stimulated quiescent mouse fibroblasts, thus identifying the likely site for translation. The protein synthesized by the insect cells is active as assayed by its ability to bind to a specific DNA sequence that has been identified as an Egr-1 binding site. The insect cell system will allow further studies of the structure and function of the Egr-1 product, a protein that appears to be an important "master switch" for other genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Universita Degli Studi di Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ragona
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mercola
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calogero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486109:Egr1 protein, mouse; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA