A factor that regulates the class II major histocompatibility complex gene DPA is a member of a subfamily of zinc finger proteins that includes a Drosophila developmental control protein.
A novel DNA sequence element termed the J element involved in the regulated expression of class II major histocompatibility complex genes was recently described. To study this element and its role in class II gene regulation further, a cDNA library was screened with oligonucleotide probes containing both the S element and the nearby J element of the human DPA gene. Several DNA clones were obtained by this procedure, one of which, clone 18, is reported and characterized here. It encodes a protein predicted to contain 688 amino acid residues, including 11 zinc finger motifs of the C2H2 type in the C-terminal region, that are Krüppel-like in the conservation of the H/C link sequence connecting them. The 160 N-terminal amino acids in the nonfinger region of clone 18 are highly homologous with similar regions of several other human, mouse, and Drosophila sequences, defining a subfamily of Krüppel-like zinc finger proteins termed TAB (tramtrack [ttk]-associated box) here. One of the Drosophila sequences, ttk, is a developmental control gene, while a second does not contain a zinc finger region but encodes a structure important in oocyte development. An acidic activation domain is located between the N-terminal conserved region of clone 18 and its zinc fingers. This protein appears to require both the S and J elements, which are separated by 10 bp for optimal binding. Antisense cDNA to clone 18 inhibited the expression of a reporter construct containing the DPA promoter, indicating its functional importance in the expression of this class II gene.
Sugawara
M
M
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Scholl
T
T
Ponath
P D
PD
Strominger
J L
JL
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005796:Genes; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059867:HLA-DP alpha-Chains; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D059867:HLA-DP alpha-Chains; C071695:HLA-DPA antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors