title: Analysis of the Myc and Max interaction specificity with lambda repressor-HLH domain fusions.
abstract: The basic helix-loop-helix domain (bHLH) is present in a large class of transcriptional regulators involved in developmental processes and oncogenesis. It determines DNA binding and specific homo- and heterodimeric protein associations, crucial for protein function. Myc and Max belong to a subset of HLH proteins, containing a leucine zipper (LZ) adjacent to the bHLH domain. They differ in dimerization and functional properties such as DNA binding and transcriptional activation, and their association is required for malignant transformation by Myc. To analyze the interaction specificity of Myc and Max bHLH-LZ domains, we developed a simple Escherichia coli genetic system, which uses the amino-terminal lambda phage cI repressor as a reporter for dimerization and allows an easy detection of dimeric interactions. By reciprocal exchanges of different Myc and Max subdomains (helix 1, helix 2 and leucine zipper), we showed that the recognition specificity of Max homodimers as well as of Myc/Max heterodimers is entirely determined by the helix 2-leucine zipper region, the major role being played by the leucine zipper. The Myc LZ was found to prevent homodimeric interactions, thus explaining Myc inability to homodimerize efficiently. Moreover, we showed that the system is valid as well for reproducing the interaction of HLH proteins not containing a leucine zipper and that the chimerical proteins maintain sequence-specific DNA binding.
authors.affiliation: Centro Acidi Nucleici C.N.R., Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abril-Marti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Illi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cesareni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nasi
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda; D001483:Base Sequence; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D001704:Biopolymers; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D016350:Leucine Zippers / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
chemical_list: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D001704:Biopolymers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C067850:Myc associated factor X; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C016649:phage repressor proteins; D004247:DNA