C2H2-zinc-finger transcription factors bind RNA and function in diverse post-transcriptional regulatory processes.

Cys2-His2 zinc-finger proteins (C2H2-ZNFs) constitute the largest class of DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) yet remain largely uncharacterized. Although certain family members, e.g.

The amino acid sensor GCN2 suppresses terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) mRNA translation via La-related protein 1 (LARP1).

La-related protein 1 (LARP1) has been identified as a key translational inhibitor of terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) mRNAs downstream of the nutrient sensing protein kinase complex, mTORC1. LARP1 exerts this inhibitory effect on TOP mRNA translation by binding to the mRNA cap and the adjacent 5'TOP motif, resulting in the displacement of the cap-binding protein eIF4E from TOP mRNAs. However, the involvement of additional signaling pathway in regulating LARP1-mediated inhibition of TOP mRNA translation is largely unexplored.

Multilayered Control of Alternative Splicing Regulatory Networks by Transcription Factors.

Networks of coordinated alternative splicing (AS) events play critical roles in development and disease. However, a comprehensive knowledge of the factors that regulate these networks is lacking. We describe a high-throughput system for systematically linking trans-acting factors to endogenous RNA regulatory events.

Multiparameter functional diversity of human C2H2 zinc finger proteins.

C2H2 zinc finger proteins represent the largest and most enigmatic class of human transcription factors. Their C2H2-ZF arrays are highly variable, indicating that most will have unique DNA binding motifs. However, most of the binding motifs have not been directly determined.

A structural approach reveals how neighbouring C2H2 zinc fingers influence DNA binding specificity.

Development of an accurate protein-DNA recognition code that can predict DNA specificity from protein sequence is a central problem in biology. C2H2 zinc fingers constitute by far the largest family of DNA binding domains and their binding specificity has been studied intensively. However, despite decades of research, accurate prediction of DNA specificity remains elusive.

C2H2 zinc finger proteins greatly expand the human regulatory lexicon.

Cys2-His2 zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) proteins represent the largest class of putative human transcription factors. However, for most C2H2-ZF proteins it is unknown whether they even bind DNA or, if they do, to which sequences. Here, by combining data from a modified bacterial one-hybrid system with protein-binding microarray and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses, we show that natural C2H2-ZFs encoded in the human genome bind DNA both in vitro and in vivo, and we infer the DNA recognition code using DNA-binding data for thousands of natural C2H2-ZF domains.

Identification of a BET family bromodomain/casein kinase II/TAF-containing complex as a regulator of mitotic condensin function.

Condensin is a central regulator of mitotic genome structure with mutants showing poorly condensed chromosomes and profound segregation defects. Here, we identify NCT, a complex comprising the Nrc1 BET-family tandem bromodomain protein (SPAC631.02), casein kinase II (CKII), and several TAFs, as a regulator of condensin function.

Conserved Asf1-importin β physical interaction in growth and sexual development in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila.

Unlabelled: How the eukaryotic cell specifies distinct chromatin domains is a central problem in molecular biology. The ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila features a separation of structurally and functionally distinct germ-line and somatic chromatin into two distinct nuclei, the micronucleus (MIC) and macronucleus (MAC) respectively. To address questions about how distinct chromatin states are assembled in the MAC and MIC, we have initiated studies to define protein-protein interactions for T.

Regulation of histone gene transcription in yeast.

Histones are the primary protein component of chromatin, the mixture of DNA and proteins that packages the genetic material in eukaryotes. Large amounts of histones are required during the S phase of the cell cycle when genome replication occurs. However, ectopic expression of histones during other cell cycle phases is toxic; thus, histone expression is restricted to the S phase and is tightly regulated at multiple levels, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational.

The carboxyl terminus of Rtt109 functions in chaperone control of histone acetylation.

Rtt109 is a fungal histone acetyltransferase (HAT) that catalyzes histone H3 acetylation functionally associated with chromatin assembly. Rtt109-mediated H3 acetylation involves two histone chaperones, Asf1 and Vps75. In vivo, Rtt109 requires both chaperones for histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) but only Asf1 for full H3K56ac.