Abstract
The homeodomain transcription factor CDP/cut contains four separate DNA binding domains and interacts with large segments of DNA. Thus, CDP/cut has the potential to function as an architectural protein and perhaps to support modifications in chromatin structure and nucleosomal organization. To begin to examine the ability of CDP/cut to interact with chromatin. We analyzed binding of CDP/cut to the histone H4 gene promoter (-90 to +75) reconstituted into nucleosome cores. The -90 to +75 region encompasses the cell cycle regulatory element (Site II) that controls histone H4 gene transcription, a CDP/cut binding site and a nuclease hypersensitive region. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting experiments, we show that CDP/cut specifically interacts with its recognition motif in a nucleosomal context without displacing the nucleosome core. The competency of CDP/cut to interact with nucleosomes suggests that this transcription factor may facilitate chromatin remodeling in response to cell cycle regulatory and/or developmental cues.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 185-194 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Molecular Biology Reports |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1999 |
Keywords
- Cell cycle
- Chromatin
- Histone
- Homeodomain
- Nncleosome
- Tanscription
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics