Publication

Quantification of Cooperativity in Heterodimer-DNA Binding Improves the Accuracy of Binding Specificity Models

Abstract

Many transcription factors (TFs) have the ability to cooperate on DNA elements as heterodimers. Despite the significance of TF heterodimerization for gene regulation, a quantitative understanding of cooperativity between various TF dimer partners and its impact on heterodimer DNA binding specificity models is still lacking. Here, we used a novel integrative approach, combining microfluidics-steered measurements of dimer-DNA assembly with mechanistic modeling of the implicated protein-protein-DNA interactions to quantitatively interrogate the cooperative DNA binding behavior of the adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma): retinoid X receptor alpha (RXR alpha) heterodimer. Using the high throughput MITOMI (mechanically induced trapping of molecular interactions) platform, we derived equilibrium DNA binding data for PPAR gamma, RXR alpha, as well as the PPAR gamma: RXR alpha heterodimer to more than 300 target DNA sites and variants thereof. We then quantified cooperativity underlying heterodimer-DNA binding and derived an integrative heterodimer DNA binding constant. Using this cooperativity-inclusive constant, we were able to build a heterodimer-DNA binding specificity model that has superior predictive power than the one based on a regular one-site equilibrium. Our data further revealed that individual nucleotide substitutions within the target site affect the extent of cooperativity in PPAR gamma:RXR alpha-DNA binding. Our study therefore emphasizes the importance of assessing cooperativity when generating DNA binding specificity models for heterodimers.

About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Ontological neighbourhood
Related concepts (32)
DNA polymerase
A DNA polymerase is a member of a family of enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of DNA molecules from nucleoside triphosphates, the molecular precursors of DNA. These enzymes are essential for DNA replication and usually work in groups to create two identical DNA duplexes from a single original DNA duplex. During this process, DNA polymerase "reads" the existing DNA strands to create two new strands that match the existing ones. These enzymes catalyze the chemical reaction deoxynucleoside triphosphate + DNAn pyrophosphate + DNAn+1.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
In the field of molecular biology, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of nuclear receptor proteins that function as transcription factors regulating the expression of genes. PPARs play essential roles in the regulation of cellular differentiation, development, and metabolism (carbohydrate, lipid, protein), and tumorigenesis of higher organisms.
Nuclear receptor
In the field of molecular biology, nuclear receptors are a class of proteins responsible for sensing steroids, thyroid hormones, vitamins, and certain other molecules. These intracellular receptors work with other proteins to regulate the expression of specific genes thereby controlling the development, homeostasis, and metabolism of the organism. Nuclear receptors bind directly to DNA regulating the expression of adjacent genes; hence these receptors are classified as transcription factors.
Show more
Related publications (39)

KRAB zinc-finger proteins and their transposable element targets: between antagonism and cooperation

Jonas Caspar De Tribolet-Hardy

There are 377 Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain-containing zinc finger proteins (KZFPs) in the human genome, making them the largest family of transcription factors. KZFPs are defined by a N-terminal KRAB domain and several zinc-finger domains arranged ...
EPFL2022

Chromatin Proteomics to Study Epigenetics - Challenges and Opportunities

Guido Van Mierlo

Regulation of gene expression is essential for the functioning of all eukaryotic organisms. Understanding gene expression regulation requires determining which proteins interact with regulatory elements in chromatin. MS-based analysis of chromatin has emer ...
AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC2021

High throughput screening identifies SOX2 as a super pioneer factor that inhibits DNA methylation maintenance at its binding sites

Ludovica Vanzan

Binding of mammalian transcription factors (TFs) to regulatory regions is hindered by chromatin compaction and DNA methylation of their binding sites. Nevertheless, pioneer transcription factors (PFs), a distinct class of TFs, have the ability to access nu ...
NATURE RESEARCH2021
Show more
Related MOOCs (6)
Neuroscience Reconstructed: Cell Biology
This course will provide the fundamental knowledge in neuroscience required to understand how the brain is organised and how function at multiple scales is integrated to give rise to cognition and beh
Neuroscience Reconstructed: Cell Biology
This course will provide the fundamental knowledge in neuroscience required to understand how the brain is organised and how function at multiple scales is integrated to give rise to cognition and beh
Neuroscience Reconstructed: Genetics and Brain Development
This course will provide the fundamental knowledge in neuroscience required to understand how the brain is organised and how function at multiple scales is integrated to give rise to cognition and beh
Show more

Graph Chatbot

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.