A homeotic mutation in the trithorax SET domain impedes histone binding.
Trithorax (TRX) is a Drosophila SET domain protein that is required for the correct expression of homeotic genes. Here, we show that the TRX SET domain efficiently binds to core histones and nucleosomes. The primary target for the SET domain is histone H3 and binding requires the N-terminal histone tails. The previously described trx(Z11) mutation changes a strictly conserved glycine in the SET domain to serine and causes homeotic transformations in the fly. We found that this mutation selectively interferes with histone binding, suggesting that histones represent a critical target during developmental gene regulation by TRX.
Katsani
K R
KR
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, MGC Center for Biomedical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Arredondo
J J
JJ
Kal
A J
AJ
Verrijzer
C P
CP
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C063460:Trl protein, Drosophila; D005982:Glutathione Transferase