Abstract
Hox transcription factors are essential for shaping body morphology in development and evolution. The control of Hox protein activity in part arises from interaction with the PBC class of partners, pre-B cell transcription factor (Pbx) proteins in vertebrates and Extradenticle (Exd) in Drosophila. Characterized interactions occur through a single mode, involving a short hexapeptide motif in the Hox protein. This apparent uniqueness in Hox-PBC interaction provides little mechanistic insight in how the same cofactors endow Hox proteins with specific and diverse activities. Here, we identify in the Drosophila Ultrabithorax (Ubx) protein a short motif responsible for an alternative mode of Exd recruitment. Together with previous reports, this finding highlights that the Hox protein Ubx has multiple ways to interact with the Exd cofactor and suggests that flexibility in Hox-PBC contacts contributes to specify and diversify Hox protein function.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Amino Acid Motifs
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Animals
-
Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein / chemistry
-
Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein / metabolism
-
Drosophila Proteins / chemistry
-
Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
-
Drosophila melanogaster / cytology
-
Drosophila melanogaster / embryology
-
Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
-
Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
-
Embryo, Nonmammalian / cytology
-
Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
-
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
-
Homeodomain Proteins / chemistry
-
Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
-
Models, Biological
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Protein Transport
-
Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
-
Repressor Proteins / metabolism
-
Sequence Deletion
-
Transcription Factors / chemistry
-
Transcription Factors / metabolism*
Substances
-
Antennapedia Homeodomain Protein
-
Drosophila Proteins
-
Homeodomain Proteins
-
Repressor Proteins
-
Transcription Factors
-
Ubx protein, Drosophila
-
exd protein, Drosophila