The Abd-B-like Hox homeodomain proteins can be subdivided by the ability to form complexes with Pbx1a on a novel DNA target

J Biol Chem. 1997 Mar 28;272(13):8198-206. doi: 10.1074/jbc.272.13.8198.

Abstract

Previous studies showed that the Hox homeodomain proteins from paralog groups 1-8 display cooperative DNA binding with the non-Hox homeodomain protein Pbx, mediated by a canonical YPWM. Although the Abd-B-like Hox proteins in paralogs 9-13 lack this sequence, Hoxb-9 and Hoxa-10 were reported to bind with Pbx1a to DNA. We show that these interactions require a tryptophan 6 amino acids N-terminal to the homeodomain. Binding site selection for Hoxb-9 with Pbx1a yielded ATGATTTACGAC, containing a novel TTAC Hox-binding site adjacent to a Pbx site. In the presence of Pbx1a, Hoxb-9 and Hoxa-10 bound to targets containing either TTAC or TTAT. These data extend previous findings that interactions with Pbx define a Hox protein binding code for different DNA sequences across paralog groups 1 through 10. Members of the 11, 12, and 13 paralogs do not cooperatively bind DNA with Pbx1a, despite the presence of tryptophan residues N-terminal to the homeodomain in Hoxd-12 and Hoxd-13. Hoxa-11, Hoxd-12, or Hoxd-13, in the presence of Pbx1a, selected a TTAC Hox site but lacking a Pbx1a site. These data suggest that Abd-B-like Hox proteins bind to a novel TTAC site and can be divided by their cooperative binding to DNA with Pbx1a.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Genes, Homeobox
  • Homeobox A10 Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins / chemistry
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TATA Box
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tryptophan
  • Xenopus Proteins*

Substances

  • Abd-B proteins, Drosophila
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • HOXA11 protein, human
  • HOXB9 protein, human
  • HOXD13 protein, human
  • Homeobox A10 Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Hoxa11 protein, mouse
  • Hoxb9 protein, Xenopus
  • Hoxd12 protein, mouse
  • Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • PBX1 protein, human
  • Hoxa10 protein, mouse
  • Tryptophan
  • DNA