Subunit composition determines E2F DNA-binding site specificity.
The product of the retinoblastoma (Rb) susceptibility gene, Rb-1, regulates the activity of a wide variety of transcription factors, such as E2F, in a cell cycle-dependent fashion. E2F is a heterodimeric transcription factor composed of two subunits each encoded by one of two related gene families, denoted E2F and DP. Five E2F genes, E2F-1 through E2F-5, and two DP genes, DP-1 and DP-2, have been isolated from mammals, and heterodimeric complexes of these proteins are expressed in most, if not all, vertebrate cells. It is not yet clear whether E2F/DP complexes regulate overlapping and/or specific cellular genes. Moreover, little is known about whether Rb regulates all or a subset of E2F-dependent genes. Using recombinant E2F, DP, and Rb proteins prepared in baculovirus-infected cells and a repetitive immunoprecipitation-PCR procedure (CASTing), we have identified consensus DNA-binding sites for E2F-1/DP-1, E2F-1/DP-2, E2F-4/DP-1, and E2F-4/DP-2 complexes as well as an Rb/E2F-1/DP-1 trimeric complex. Our data indicate that (i) E2F, DP, and Rb proteins each influence the selection of E2F-binding sites; (ii) E2F sites differ with respect to their intrinsic DNA-bending properties; (iii) E2F/DP complexes induce distinct degrees of DNA bending; and (iv) complex-specific E2F sites selected in vitro function distinctly as regulators of cell cycle-dependent transcription in vivo. These data indicate that the specific sequence of an E2F site may determine its role in transcriptional regulation and suggest that Rb/E2F complexes may regulate subsets of E2F-dependent cellular genes.
Tao
Y
Y
Department of Molecular Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Kassatly
R F
RF
Cress
W D
WD
Horowitz
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019281:Dimerization; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; D050704:E2F4 Transcription Factor; D050700:E2F5 Transcription Factor; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D056465:Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 1; D050680:Transcription Factor DP1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; D050704:E2F4 Transcription Factor; C493762:E2F4 protein, human; D050700:E2F5 Transcription Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D056465:Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 1; C493735:TFDP1 protein, human; D050680:Transcription Factor DP1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA