Short isoform of POU factor Brn-3b can form a heterodimer with Brn-3a that is inactive for octamer motif binding.
The POU proteins Brn-3a and Brn-3b belong to a family of DNA binding transcription factors that share stretches of extensive homology. Both Brn-3a and Brn-3b are expressed as shorter and longer isoforms. The long form of Brn-3a is able to oncogenically transform primary fibroblasts. By contrast, the short form of Brn-3b (Brn-3b(s)) cannot transform fibroblasts but is able to specifically inhibit the transforming activity of Brn-3a(1). Moreover, Brn-3a(1) can act as a transcriptional transactivator, while Brn-3b(s) is not only unable to do so but in addition specifically inhibits the tranactivating activity of Brn-3a(1). Here, we show that the opposite and antagonistic activities of Brn-3a(1) and Brn-3b(s) proteins are due to their different DNA binding properties; Brn-3a(1) but not Brn-3b(s) can form stable complexes with several octamer-related target DNA sequences. The presence of Brn-3b(s) completely inhibits the binding of Brn-3a(1) to DNA by preventing the formation of Brn-3a(1)-DNA complexes as well as by disrupting preformed complexes. Experiments with GST fusion proteins and in vitro binding studies suggest that the inhibition of Brn-3a(1) activity by Brn-3b(s) occurs via direct interaction of the two transcription factors in solution. Therefore, we hypothesize that Brn-3b(s) can act as a direct antagonist of Brn-3a(1) by inhibiting its DNA binding through the formation of an inactive hetero-oligomeric complex.
Institute für Molekularbiologie und Tumorforschung, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany.
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D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B; D014157:Transcription Factors