A combination of computational and experimental approaches identifies DNA sequence constraints associated with target site binding specificity of the transcription factor CSL

Citations Over Time

Abstract

Regulation of transcription is fundamental to development and physiology, and occurs through binding of transcription factors to specific DNA sequences in the genome. CSL (CBF1/Suppressor of Hairless/LAG-1), a core component of the Notch signaling pathway, is one such transcription factor that acts in concert with co-activators or co-repressors to control the activity of associated target genes. One fundamental question is how CSL can recognize and select among different DNA sequences available in vivo and whether variations between selected sequences can influence its function. We have therefore investigated CSL-DNA recognition using computational approaches to analyze the energetics of CSL bound to different DNAs and tested the in silico predictions with in vitro and in vivo assays. Our results reveal novel aspects of CSL binding that may help explain the range of binding observed in vivo. In addition, using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that domain-domain correlations within CSL differ significantly depending on the DNA sequence bound, suggesting that different DNA sequences may directly influence CSL function. Taken together, our results, based on computational chemistry approaches, provide valuable insights into transcription factor-DNA binding, in this particular case increasing our understanding of CSL-DNA interactions and how these may impact on its transcriptional control.

Related Papers

• → DNA binding properties of the LexA repressor(1991)112 cited
• → Structure of the elk-1-DNA complex reveals how DNA-distal residues affect ETS domain recognition of DNA.(2000)94 cited
• → Identifying DNA-Binding Sites and Analyzing DNA-Binding Domains Using a Yeast Selection System(1993)54 cited
• → FAMILIES OF DNA BINDING TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS(2008)3 cited
• → DNA Binding Drugs Targeting the Regulatory DNA Binding Site of the ETS Domain Family Transcription Factor Associated With Human Breast Cancer(2000)