Dataset Information

Neutralizing the function of a ?-globin-associated cis-regulatory DNA element using an artificial zinc finger DNA-binding domain.

ABSTRACT: Gene expression is primarily regulated by cis-regulatory DNA elements and trans-interacting proteins. Transcription factors bind in a DNA sequence-specific manner and recruit activities that modulate the association and activity of transcription complexes at specific genes. Often, transcription factors belong to families of related proteins that interact with similar DNA sequences. Furthermore, genes are regulated by multiple, sometimes redundant, cis-regulatory elements. Thus, the analysis of the role of a specific DNA regulatory sequence and the interacting proteins in the context of intact cells is challenging. In this study, we designed and functionally characterized an artificial DNA-binding domain that neutralizes the function of a cis-regulatory DNA element associated with adult ?-globin gene expression. The zinc finger DNA-binding domain (ZF-DBD), comprising six ZFs, interacted specifically with a CACCC site located 90 bp upstream of the transcription start site (-90 ?-ZF-DBD), which is normally occupied by KLF1, a major regulator of adult ?-globin gene expression. Stable expression of the -90 ?-ZF-DBD in mouse erythroleukemia cells reduced the binding of KLF1 with the ?-globin gene, but not with locus control region element HS2, and led to reduced transcription. Transient transgenic embryos expressing the -90 ?-ZF-DBD developed normally but revealed reduced expression of the adult ?-globin gene. These results demonstrate that artificial DNA-binding proteins lacking effector domains are useful tools for studying and modulating the function of cis-regulatory DNA elements.

SUBMITTER: Barrow JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3497758 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Neutralizing the function of a β-globin-associated cis-regulatory DNA element using an artificial zinc finger DNA-binding domain.

Barrow Joeva J JJ Masannat Jude J Bungert Jörg J

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20121016 44

Gene expression is primarily regulated by cis-regulatory DNA elements and trans-interacting proteins. Transcription factors bind in a DNA sequence-specific manner and recruit activities that modulate the association and activity of transcription complexes at specific genes. Often, transcription factors belong to families of related proteins that interact with similar DNA sequences. Furthermore, genes are regulated by multiple, sometimes redundant, cis-regulatory elements. Thus, the analysis of t ...[more]

PMID: 23074246

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Project description:Transcription factors are often regarded as having two distinct components: a DNA binding domain (DBD) to allow binding to the regulatory region of a target gene and a trans-acting functional domain (FD) to modulate gene expression. Recently, it is becoming clear that the DBDs of transcription factors alone are incapable of providing sufficient specificity to account for the highly complex genomic structures in eukaryotes. Other regions, outside of the DBD, may play a role in transcription factor DNA binding specificity in vivo. In order to test this hypothesis, we examined a model zinc finger transcription factor, KrÃ¼ppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) with a FD that recruits partner proteins for its repressive activity and a three zinc finger DBD. Previously, we showed that deletion of the entire KLF3 FD reduced DNA binding across the genome. This implied the importance of the FD for in vivo DNA binding specificity. In the current study, we fused the KLF3 FD onto an unrelated, but well characterised Artificial Zinc Finger (AZF) targeting a standard target gene, VEGF-A. We compared the genomic DNA binding profile of this chimeric KLF3 construct, termed KLF3FD-AZF, to that of the AZF alone. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing was used to assess genomic wide DNA-binding of these AZFs. Remarkably, in these gain-of-function experiments, we again observed that the KLF3 FD is critical for in vivo DNA binding specificity. The addition of KLF3 FD increased the number of binding sites by more than two fold compared to the AZF alone. KLF3 FD also directed more binding to the promoter regions. Further investigations of these acquired sites identified a substantial portion of these sites as the known endogenous KLF3 bound regions, whilst others contain sequences that are similar but not identical to the predicted AZF target sequence. These results clearly demonstrate that the specific localisation of this model transcription factor to target genes is not solely dependent on the DBD and that the regions outside of this domain may also play an important role. ChIP-Seq experiments were performed on four HEK293 cell lines, two each stably expressing AZF or KLF3FD.AZF or KLF3FD only (two biological replicates). Input samples were included as controls.

Project description:Transcription factors are often regarded as having two distinct components: a DNA binding domain (DBD) to allow binding to the regulatory region of a target gene and a trans-acting functional domain (FD) to modulate gene expression. Recently, it is becoming clear that the DBDs of transcription factors alone are incapable of providing sufficient specificity to account for the highly complex genomic structures in eukaryotes. Other regions, outside of the DBD, may play a role in transcription factor DNA binding specificity in vivo. In order to test this hypothesis, we examined a model zinc finger transcription factor, Krüppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) with a FD that recruits partner proteins for its repressive activity and a three zinc finger DBD. Previously, we showed that deletion of the entire KLF3 FD reduced DNA binding across the genome. This implied the importance of the FD for in vivo DNA binding specificity. In the current study, we fused the KLF3 FD onto an unrelated, but well characterised Artificial Zinc Finger (AZF) targeting a standard target gene, VEGF-A. We compared the genomic DNA binding profile of this chimeric KLF3 construct, termed KLF3FD-AZF, to that of the AZF alone. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing was used to assess genomic wide DNA-binding of these AZFs. Remarkably, in these gain-of-function experiments, we again observed that the KLF3 FD is critical for in vivo DNA binding specificity. The addition of KLF3 FD increased the number of binding sites by more than two fold compared to the AZF alone. KLF3 FD also directed more binding to the promoter regions. Further investigations of these acquired sites identified a substantial portion of these sites as the known endogenous KLF3 bound regions, whilst others contain sequences that are similar but not identical to the predicted AZF target sequence. These results clearly demonstrate that the specific localisation of this model transcription factor to target genes is not solely dependent on the DBD and that the regions outside of this domain may also play an important role.

Dataset Information

Neutralizing the function of a ?-globin-associated cis-regulatory DNA element using an artificial zinc finger DNA-binding domain.

Publications

Neutralizing the function of a β-globin-associated cis-regulatory DNA element using an artificial zinc finger DNA-binding domain.

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