title: DNA binding and gene activation properties of the Nmp4 nuclear matrix transcription factors.
abstract: Splice variants of the Nmp4 gene include nuclear matrix transcription factors that regulate the type I collagen alpha1(I) polypeptide chain (COL1A1) promoter and several matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes. To date, these are the only Cys(2)His(2) zinc finger proteins known to bind within the minor groove of homopolymeric (dA.dT) DNA. Nmp4 isoforms contain from 5 to 8 Cys(2)His(2) zinc fingers, an SH3-binding domain that overlaps with a putative AT-hook and a polyglutamine-alanine repeat (poly(QA)). To determine the mechanistic significance of Cys(2)His(2) zinc finger association with this unusual consensus DNA binding element, we identified the Nmp4 DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains. Zinc fingers 2, 3, and 6 mediated association with the homopolymeric (dA.dT) COL1A1/MMP DNA consensus element. The N terminus of the Nmp4 protein exhibited a strong trans-activation capacity when fused to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain, but this activity was masked within the context of the full-length Nmp4-GAL4 DNA-binding domain chimera. However, upon binding to the COL1A1/MMP homopolymeric (dA.dT) element, the native Nmp4 protein up-regulated transcription, and the poly(QA) domain acquired a significant role in trans-activation. We propose that allosteric effects induced upon zinc finger association with the homopolymeric (dA.dT) minor groove confer context-specific functionality to this unusual family of Cys(2)His(2) transcription factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Kitti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torrungruang
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Jude E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Onyia
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bidwell
mesh_terms: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004214:Distamycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics; D008739:Methyl Green / Q000494:pharmacology; D015530:Nuclear Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004214:Distamycins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D008739:Methyl Green; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases