title: POU domain factors of the Brn-3 class recognize functional DNA elements which are distinctive, symmetrical, and highly conserved in evolution.
abstract: To better understand the diversity of function within the POU domain class of transcriptional regulators, we have determined the optimal DNA recognition site of several proteins of the POU-IV (Brn-3) subclass by random oligonucleotide selection. The consensus recognition element derived in this study, ATAATTAAT, is clearly distinct from octamer sites described for the POU factor Oct-1. The optimal POU-IV site determined here also binds Brn-3.0 with significantly higher affinity than consensus recognition sites previously proposed for this POU subclass. The binding affinity of Brn-3.0 on its optimal site, several variants of this site, and several naturally occurring POU recognition elements is highly correlated with the activation of reporter gene expression by Brn-3.0 in transfection assays. The preferred DNA recognition site of Brn-3.0 resembles strongly the optimal sites of another mammalian POU-IV class protein, Brn-3.2, and of the Caenorhabditis elegans Brn-3.0 homolog Unc-86, demonstrating that the site-specific DNA recognition properties of these factors are highly conserved between widely divergent species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gleiberman
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051863:Host Cell Factor C1; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051863:Host Cell Factor C1; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D050818:Transcription Factor Brn-3; D014157:Transcription Factors; C085076:transcription factor Brn-2; C081539:unc-86 protein, C elegans; D004247:DNA