Work

Direct Single-Molecule Observation of Sequential DNA Bending Transitions by the Sox2 HMG Box

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Sox2 is a pioneer transcription factor that initiates cell fate reprogramming through locus-specific differential regulation. Mechanistically, it was assumed that Sox2 achieves its regulatory diversity via heterodimerization with partner transcription factors. Here, utilizing single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, we show that Sox2 alone can modulate DNA structural landscape in a dosage-dependent manner. We propose that such stoichiometric tuning of regulatory DNAs is crucial to the diverse biological functions of Sox2, and represents a generic mechanism of conferring functional plasticity and multiplicity to transcription factors.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123865

Authors: Mahdi Muhammad Moosa, Phoebe S. Tsoi, Kyoung-Jae Choi, Allan Chris M. Ferreon, Josephine C. Ferreon

Institution: Baylor College of Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Diffusion and Search Dynamics

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences