title: A conserved C-terminal domain in PBX increases DNA binding by the PBX homeodomain and is not a primary site of contact for the YPWM motif of HOXA1.
abstract: HOX proteins are dependent upon cofactors of the PBX family for specificity of DNA binding. Two regions that have been implicated in HOX/PBX cooperative interactions are the YPWM motif, found N-terminal to the HOX homeodomain, and the GKFQ domain (also known as the Hox cooperativity motif) immediately C-terminal to the PBX homeodomain. Using derivatives of the E2A-PBX oncoprotein, we find that the GKFQ domain is not essential for cooperative interaction with HOXA1 but contributes to the stability of the complex. By contrast, the YPWM motif is strictly required for cooperative interactions in vitro and in vivo, even with mutants of E2A-PBX lacking the GKFQ domain. Using truncated PBX proteins, we show that the YPWM motif contacts the PBX homeodomain. The presence of the GKFQ domain increases monomer binding by the PBX homeodomain 5-fold, and the stability of the HOXA1.E2A-PBX complex 2-fold. These data suggest that the GKFQ domain acts mainly to increase DNA binding by PBX, rather than providing a primary contact site for the YPWM motif of HOXA1. We have identified 2 residues, Glu-301 and Tyr-305, required for GKFQ function and suggest that this is dependent on alpha-helical character.
authors.affiliation: McGill Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rambaldi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teakles
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Featherstone
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D000075062:Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099261:Homeobox A1 Protein
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000075062:Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099261:Homeobox A1 Protein; C083400:PBX1 protein, human