Specification of C/EBP function during Drosophila development by the bZIP basic region.
The biologically relevant interactions of a transcription factor are those that are important for function in the organism. Here, a transgenic rescue assay was used to determine which molecular functions of Drosophila CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), a basic region-leucine zipper transcription factor, are required for it to fulfill its essential role during development. Chimeric proteins that contain the Drosophila C/EBP (DmC/EBP) basic region, a heterologous zipper, and a heterologous activation domain could functionally substitute for DmC/EBP. Mammalian C/EBPs were also functional in Drosophila. In contrast, 9 of 25 single amino acid substitutions in the basic region disrupted biological function. Thus, the conserved basic region specifies DmC/EBP activity in the organism.
Rørth
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Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Baltimore, MD 21210.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D051790:G-Box Binding Factors; D016350:Leucine Zippers; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051790:G-Box Binding Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA