The Effect on Transcriptional Activity of Mutations that Alter Possible Phosphorylation Sites in Drosophila melanogaster Ultraspiracle (USP)
Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: During insect development, steroid hormones interact with two members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, ecdysone receptor (EcR) and Ultraspiracle (USP) to bring about cellular changes. To determine the functional properties of mutations of serine and threonine residues that are possible targets of phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC) in the gene that encodes the D. melanogaster USP, we developed a heterologous mammalian cell culture system. When tested with the three natural isoforms of D. melanogaster EcR, one of the five mutations, S112A in the DNA-binding domain of USP, reduced basal and induced transcriptional activity, by itself and in most combinations with other mutations. Treatment with a PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride (CC), itself had no effect on the transcriptional activity with wild-type USP and with any of the combination of mutations suggesting that the difference in activity caused by S112A does not involve phosphorylation. These mutational studies create a foundation for future in vivo experiments.
Author: Katherine M. Clifton
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1540439637