DNA-binding transcription factors

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are members of a large superfamily of evolutionarily related DNA-binding transcription factors that regulate programs involved in a broad spectrum of physiological phenomena. 

Transcription factor A protein or complex set of proteins that affects the rate of transcription. Many transcription factors affect transcription by binding DNA and increasing either the probability of transcription or the stability of transcriptional machinery through protein-protein interactions. Other transcription factors act as linkers between DNA-binding transcription factors or RNA polymerase. 

Nasir ud D. Oct-2 DNA binding transcription factor functional consequences of phosphorylation and glycosylation. Nucleic Acids 36. 

Proteins are part of a dynamic network of biomolecules that interact to regulate their localization and function within the cell. Disruption of this physical and chemical system of interactions has become the first paramount step in performing protein analysis by shotgun proteomics. Protein isolation techniques, for instance, have allowed understanding of the complex dynamics of proteins among cellular subcompartments, such as the nucleolus or the mitochondrion (6). Membrane-embedded proteins (7) and DNA-binding transcription factors (8) are two other prominent examples where inadequate protein extraction may hamper further analysis by LC-MS. 

Kawagnchi, H., Asai, A., Ohtsuka, Y., Watanabe, H., Wada, T., Handa, H. (1989). Pnrification of DNA-binding transcription factors by their selective adsorption on the affinity latex particles. Nucleic Acids Res., 17, 6229-6240. 

A question of central interest in the homeobox gene field has been how homeoproteins which act as DNA binding transcription factors, can with a relatively weak specificity of DNA binding, achieve such specificity of action. The chapter by Featherstone explores the mechanisms through which Hox and other homeoproteins achieve specificity in their role as transcriptional regulators (both activators and... 

TPX was used to elucidate the protein interactions necessary for HDAC mediated transcriptional repression via the Mad Max ternary complex [12], Previous studies had suggested that Mad Max transcriptional repression was mediated by ternary complex formation with another unknown protein. Biochemical experiments identified the proteins mSin3A or B as the primary candidates responsible for this negative transcriptional function. Coexpression of activated or inactivated MAD (a DNA-binding transcription factor) in the presence of TPX demonstrated that HDAC activity was necessary for ternary complex formation. Additionally, these and other experiments showed that the Mad Max heterocomplexes repress transcription in a mSin3A-associated HD AC-dependent manner. 

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