Abstract
The biologically relevant interactions of a transcription factor are those that are important for function in the organism. Here, a transgenic rescue assay was used to determine which molecular functions of Drosophila CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), a basic region-leucine zipper transcription factor, are required for it to fulfill its essential role during development. Chimeric proteins that contain the Drosophila C/EBP (DmC/EBP) basic region, a heterologous zipper, and a heterologous activation domain could functionally substitute for DmC/EBP. Mammalian C/EBPs were also functional in Drosophila. In contrast, 9 of 25 single amino acid substitutions in the basic region disrupted biological function. Thus, the conserved basic region specifies DmC/EBP activity in the organism.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Base Sequence
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Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
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CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
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DNA / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
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Drosophila / genetics
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Drosophila / growth & development*
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Female
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G-Box Binding Factors
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Leucine Zippers*
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Male
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Transcription Factors / chemistry
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
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Transcriptional Activation
Substances
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Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
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CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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G-Box Binding Factors
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Nuclear Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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DNA