title: DNA-binding domains of plant-specific transcription factors: structure, function, and evolution.
abstract: The families of the plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) are defined by their characteristic DNA-binding domains (DBDs), such as AP2/ERF, B3, NAC, SBP, and WRKY. Recently, three-dimensional structures of the DBDs, including those in complexes with DNA, were determined by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In this review we summarize the functional and evolutionary implications arising from structure analyses. The unexpected structural similarity between B3 and the noncatalytic DBD of the restriction endonuclease EcoRII allowed us to build structural models of the B3/DNA complex. Most of the DBDs of plant-specific TFs are likely to have originated from endonucleases associated with transposable elements. After the DBDs have been established in unicellular eukaryotes, they experienced extensive plant-specific expansion, by acquiring new functions.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology-AIST, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan. k-yamasaki@aist.go.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kigawa
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinozaki
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
mesh_terms: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors