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Erythroid transcription factor NF-E2 is a haematopoietic-specific basic-leucine zipper protein
N C Andrews1, H Erdjument-Bromage, M B Davidson
1Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Nature
|April 22, 1993
Summary
Erythroid cells use a specific nuclear factor, NF-E2, to control globin gene expression. This factor, composed of p45 NF-E2 and a partner protein, binds to AP-1-like sites, enabling gene activation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Gene regulation
- Hematopoiesis
Background:
- Globin gene expression is crucial for erythroid cell development.
- Locus control regions (LCRs) regulate gene expression.
- An erythroid-specific nuclear factor (NF-E2) is known to be essential for LCR activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the tissue-specific component of NF-E2.
- To identify the molecular nature of the erythroid-specific factor involved in globin gene regulation.
Main Methods:
- Complementary DNA (cDNA) cloning was employed to identify the protein.
- Analysis of protein structure, specifically the basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) domain.
Main Results:
- The tissue-specific component, p45 NF-E2, was identified as a novel bZIP protein.
- p45 NF-E2 forms a heterodimer with a ubiquitously expressed partner protein.
- This heterodimer constitutes the native NF-E2 complex that binds AP-1-like sites.
Conclusions:
- p45 NF-E2 is the key erythroid-specific subunit of the NF-E2 transcription factor.
- The heterodimerization of p45 NF-E2 with a ubiquitous partner is essential for its function in regulating globin gene expression via LCRs.