title: The c-myc promoter binding protein (MBP-1) and TBP bind simultaneously in the minor groove of the c-myc P2 promoter.
abstract: The c-myc promoter binding protein (MBP-1) is a DNA binding protein which negatively regulates the expression of the human c-myc gene. MBP-1 binds to a sequence which overlaps the binding site for the general transcription factor TBP, within the c-myc P2 promoter region. Since TBP binds in the minor groove, MBP-1 might inhibit c-myc transcription by preventing the formation of a functional preinitiation complex. In support of this hypothesis, we have demonstrated that MPB-1 is a minor groove binding protein. In order to characterize MBP-1 binding, we substituted A-T base pairs in the MBP-1 binding site with I-C base pairs, which changes the major groove surface without altering the minor groove surface. This substitution did not inhibit the sequence-specific binding of MBP-1 and TBP. On the other hand, G-C to I-C substitution within the MBP-1 binding site alters the minor groove and prevents MBP-1 binding. Competitive electrophoretic mobility shift assays were used to show that berenil, distamycin, and mithramycin, all of which bind in the minor groove, compete with MBP-1 for binding to the MPB-1 binding site. These minor groove binding ligands also effectively inhibit the simultaneous DNA binding activity of both MBP-1 and TBP. We conclude that both MBP-1 and TBP can bind simultaneously in the minor groove of the TATA motif on the c-myc P2 promoter. This suggests that MBP-1 may negatively regulate c-myc gene expression by preventing efficient transcription initiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-3300.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008024:Ligands; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C063232:HIVEP1 protein, human; D008024:Ligands; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA