title: The level of DLDB/CHIP controls the activity of the LIM homeodomain protein apterous: evidence for a functional tetramer complex in vivo.
abstract: The LIM homeodomain (LIM-HD) protein Apterous (Ap) and its cofactor DLDB/CHIP control dorso- ventral (D/V) patterning and growth of Drosophila wing. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of Ap/CHIP function we altered their relative levels of expression and generated mutants in the LIM1, LIM2 and HD domains of Ap, as well as in the LIM-interacting and self-association domains of CHIP. Using in vitro and in vivo assays we found that: (i) the levels of CHIP relative to Ap control D/V patterning; (ii) the LIM1 and LIM2 domains differ in their contributions to Ap function; (iii) Ap HD mutations cause weak dominant negative effects; (iv) overexpression of ChipDeltaSAD mutants mimics Ap lack-of-function, and this dominant negative phenotype is caused by titration of Ap because it can be rescued by adding extra Ap; and (v) overexpression of ChipDeltaLID mutants also causes an Ap lack-of-function phenotype, but it cannot be rescued by extra Ap. These results support the model that the Ap-CHIP active complex in vivo is a tetramer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Rincón-Limas
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Canal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Botas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019281:Dimerization; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: C108740:Chi protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C074459:ap protein, Drosophila