title: DNA binding and protein interactions of the AHR/ARNT heterodimer that facilitate gene activation.
abstract: Gene activation by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and its DNA binding partner, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) requires a number of sequential steps that occur following the binding of ligand and entry of the AHR into the nuclear compartment. This includes heterodimerization of the AHR and ARNT, formation of the appropriate amino acid/nucleotide contacts at the GCGTG recognition site and interactions between either the AHR or ARNT with proteins that facilitate changes in chromatin structure. The majority of these steps are likely modulated by changes in both phosphorylation and oxidation status of the AHR, ARNT and associated proteins. Studies of both the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors and the nuclear hormone receptor family can provide significant insights into how this unique signaling pathway activates its target genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Biomedical Pharmacology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, MS 303, Lexington 40536, USA. hswan@uky.edu
authors.forename: Hollie I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019281:Dimerization; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D004247:DNA