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Mol. Cell. Biol., 09 1997, 5581-5587, Vol 17, No. 9
BD Aronson, AL Fisher, K Blechman, M Caudy and JP Gergen
Runt domain proteins are transcriptional regulators that specify cell fates
for processes extending from pattern formation in insects to leukemogenesis
in humans. Runt domain family members are defined based on the presence of
the 128-amino-acid Runt domain, which is necessary and sufficient for
sequence-specific DNA binding. We demonstrate an evolutionarily conserved
protein-protein interaction between Runt domain proteins and the
corepressor Groucho. The interaction, however, is independent of the Runt
domain and can be mapped to a 5-amino-acid sequence, VWRPY, present at the
C terminus of all Runt domain proteins. Drosophila melanogaster Runt and
Groucho interact genetically; the in vivo repression of a subset of
Runt-regulated genes is dependent on the interaction with Groucho and is
sensitive to Groucho dosage. Runt's repression of one gene, engrailed, is
independent of VWRPY and Groucho, thus demonstrating alternative mechanisms
for repression by Runt domain proteins. Unlike other transcriptional
regulatory proteins that interact with Groucho, Runt domain proteins are
known to activate transcription. This suggests that the Runt domain
protein-Groucho interaction may be regulated.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Groucho-dependent and -independent repression activities of Runt domain proteins
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794-5215, USA.
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