title: The homeodomain transcription factor CDP/cut interacts with the cell cycle regulatory element of histone H4 genes packaged into nucleosomes.
abstract: The homeodomain transcription factor CDP/cut contains four separate DNA binding domains and interacts with large segments of DNA. Thus, CDP/cut has the potential to function as an architectural protein and perhaps to support modifications in chromatin structure and nucleosomal organization. To begin to examine the ability of CDP/cut to interact with chromatin, we analyzed binding of CDP/cut to the histone H4 gene promoter (-90 to +75) reconstituted into nucleosome cores. The -90 to +75 region encompasses the cell cycle regulatory element (Site II) that controls histone H4 gene transcription, a CDP/cut binding site and a nuclease hypersensitive region. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting experiments, we show that CDP/cut specifically interacts with its recognition motif in a nucleosomal context without displacing the nucleosome core. The competency of CDP/cut to interact with nucleosomes suggests that this transcription factor may facilitate chromatin remodeling in response to cell cycle regulatory and/or developmental cues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01655, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Last
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Wijnen
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Ridder
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018816:Genes, cdc; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C080632:CUX1 protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009707:Nucleosomes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA