Work

Selective interaction of plant homeodomain proteins mediates high DNA-binding affinity

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: Understanding molecular mechanisms that control cell fate in the shoot apical meristem is a fundamental question in plant development. Genetic and molecular studies demonstrate that maize KNOTTED1 (KN1) of the TALE (3-aa acid loop extension) class of homeodomain (HD) proteins is involved in shoot apical meristem function. We show that KN1 interacts with knotted interacting protein (KIP), a BEL1-like TALE HD protein. Interaction between KN1 and KIP is mediated by conserved domains in the N termini of both proteins. The KN1 DNA-binding sequence, TGACAG(G/C)T, was biochemically identified, and in vitro DNA-binding assays show that individually KN1 and the HD of KIP bind specifically to this motif with low affinity. The KN1-KIP complex, however, binds specifically to this DNA-binding motif with high affinity, indicating that the association of KN1 and KIP may function in transcriptional regulation.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.092271599

Authors: Harley M. S. Smith, Ilja Boschke, Sarah Hake

Institutions: Agricultural Research Service, Plant Gene Expression Center, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Plant Molecular Biology Research

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: G1108259708, MECHANISMS OF SHOOT MERISTEM DEVELOPMENT