title: The Dimerization State of the Mammalian High Mobility Group Protein AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2).
abstract: The mammalian high mobility group protein AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a chromosomal architectural transcription factor involved in cell transformation and oncogenesis. It consists of three positively charged "AT-hooks" and a negatively charged C-terminus. Sequence analyses, circular dichroism experiments, and gel-filtration studies showed that HMGA2, in the native state, does not have a defined secondary or tertiary structure. Surprisingly, using combined approaches of 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) chemical cross-linking, analytical ultracentrifugation, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and mass spectrometry, we discovered that HMGA2 is capable of self-associating into homodimers in aqueous buffer solution. Our results showed that electrostatic interactions between the positively charged "AT-hooks" and the negatively charged C-terminus greatly contribute to the homodimer formation.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Maria A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baez
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harrilal
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garabedian
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Lima
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Fenfei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D019281:Dimerization; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide / Q000737:chemistry; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D025743:HMGA2 Protein / Q000737:chemistry*; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D025743:HMGA2 Protein; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide