ABSTRACT
Beta-dystrobrevin, a member of the dystrobrevin protein family, is a dystrophin-related and -associated protein restricted to non-muscle tissues and is highly expressed in kidney, liver and brain. Dystrobrevins are now thought to play an important role in intracellular signal transduction, in addition to providing a membrane scaffold in muscle, but the precise role of beta-dystrobrevin has not yet been determined. To study beta-dystrobrevin's function in brain, we used the yeast two-hybrid approach to look for interacting proteins. Four overlapping clones were identified that encoded Kif5A, a neuronal member of the Kif5 family of proteins that consists of the heavy chains of conventional kinesin. A direct interaction of beta-dystrobrevin with Kif5A was confirmed by in vitro and in vivo association assays. Co-immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal kinesin heavy chain antibody precipitated both alpha- and beta-dystrobrevin, indicating that this interaction is not restricted to the beta-dystrobrevin isoform. The site for Kif5A binding to beta-dystrobrevin was localized in a carboxyl-terminal region that seems to be important in heavy chain-mediated kinesin interactions and is highly homologous in all three Kif5 isoforms, Kif5A, Kif5B and Kif5C. Pull-down and immunofluorescence experiments also showed a direct interaction between beta-dystrobrevin and Kif5B. Our findings suggest a novel function for dystrobrevin as a motor protein receptor that might play a major role in the transport of components of the dystrophin-associated protein complex to specific sites in the cell.
Subject(s)
Dystrophin-Associated Proteins , Kinesins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Animals , Brain/metabolism , COS Cells , Chlorocebus aethiops , Cloning, Molecular , Gene Library , Mice , Microscopy, Fluorescence , Protein Binding , Protein Isoforms/metabolism , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Two-Hybrid System TechniquesABSTRACT
In this study we have used FISH to examine the relationship between a group of homeobox genes, namely DLX1/DLX2, EVX2 and four HOXD genes (10, 11, 12, 13), that map to region q31 on chromosome 2, and the FRA2G and FRA2H fragile sites located at 2q31 and 2q32.1 respectively. Our results indicate that these homeobox genes lie between the two fragile regions.
Subject(s)
Chromosome Fragility/genetics , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2/genetics , Genes, Homeobox/genetics , Homeodomain Proteins , Multigene Family/genetics , Aphidicolin/pharmacology , Chromosome Breakage/genetics , Chromosome Fragile Sites , DNA Probes , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Indoles , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Physical Chromosome MappingABSTRACT
The Enhancer of split and achaete-scute gene complexes [E(spl)-C and AS-C] encode helix-loop-helix proteins required for neurogenesis in Drosophila. Using a heterologous bacterial system, we show that (i) the bHLH domains of the proteins encoded by the two gene complexes differ in their ability to form homo- and/or heterodimers; (ii) the bHLH domains of the E(spl)-C proteins m5, m7 and m8 interact with the bHLH domains of the Ac and Sc proteins. These bHLH domains form an interaction network which may represent the molecular mechanism whereby the competent state of the proneural cells is maintained until the terminal determination to neuroblast occurs. Also, the pattern of interactions of the bHLH domains of certain proteins encoded by the two gene complexes may explain their functional redundancy.
Subject(s)
DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry , Drosophila Proteins , Drosophila melanogaster/genetics , Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs/physiology , Insect Hormones/chemistry , Transcription Factors/chemistry , Animals , Bacteriophage lambda , Base Sequence , Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Escherichia coli/genetics , Insect Hormones/genetics , Molecular Sequence Data , Protein Conformation , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry , Repressor Proteins/chemistry , Repressor Proteins/genetics , Transcription Factors/genetics , Viral Proteins , Viral Regulatory and Accessory ProteinsABSTRACT
This paper reports the results of an investigation into the relationship between common fragile sites and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE). Human leukocyte cultures were grown in two different media, one complete (RPMI 1640) and one deficient in folic acid and thymidine (199M). Some of the cultures were treated with DAPI, a non-intercalating compound which binds preferentially to the AT bases of DNA and is capable of inducing fragile sites. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was added to all the cultures for SCE analysis. Chromomycin A3 was used for mapping lesions and SCEs by R-banding. A total of 400 cells was examined. The main results show that: BrdU, probably by re-equilibrating the unbalanced nucleotide pool of the 199 culture medium, interferes with the synergism between this culture medium and DAPI in inducing the expression of fragile sites; the SCE frequency per cell is not increased by DAPI in both culture media, therefore this compound does not seem to cause any damage to the DNA and seems merely to act by inhibiting the normal condensation of a subset of fragile sites that possess DAPI-specific base sequences; even in the absence of chromosomal lesions, the fragile sites are significantly preferred as SCE sites to non-fragile sites, whereas in the presence of a lesion, both fragile and non-fragile sites have the same likelihood of undergoing SCE. All this indicates that the presence of a lesion strongly favours SCE formation and that common fragile sites are probably chromosome regions preferentially damaged during the S phase.
