title: Role of zinc finger domains of the transcription factor neuron-restrictive silencer factor/repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor in DNA binding and nuclear localization.
abstract: The transcription factor neuron-restrictive silencer factor/repressor element-1 (RE-1) silencing transcription factor (NRSF/REST) contains nine zinc finger domains and binds to the DNA element, neuron-restrictive silencer element/repressor element-1. REST4, a C-terminally truncated form of NRSF/REST, contains the five N-terminal zinc fingers and binds weakly to DNA yet is transported into the nucleus. To study the contribution of zinc fingers 6-8 to DNA binding, each was mutated. A mutation in zinc finger 6 or 8 had little effect; however, mutation of zinc finger 7 diminished DNA binding. Mutations in any two of these zinc fingers eliminated DNA binding. The contribution of zinc fingers 2-5 to nuclear targeting was studied. Deletion of zinc finger 5 prevented nuclear targeting. Mutations in zinc finger 2, 4, or 5 did not abolish nuclear targeting. However, a zinc finger 3 mutation together with a zinc finger 2 mutation localized to the nuclear envelope. A zinc finger 3 mutation alone or in combination with a zinc finger 4 or 5 mutation produced a punctate nuclear distribution. These results suggest the presence of signals for nuclear targeting, for nuclear entry, and for release from the translocation machinery within zinc fingers 2-5 of REST4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40563-0298, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimojo
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hersh
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D016335:Zinc Fingers; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D017931:DNA Primers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D000099229:RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor