MLX phosphorylation stabilizes the ChREBP-MLX heterotetramer on tandem E-boxes to control carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

The heterodimeric ChREBP-MLX transcription factor complex is a key mediator that couples intracellular sugar levels to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. To promote the expression of target genes, two ChREBP-MLX heterodimers form a heterotetramer to bind a tandem element with two adjacent E-boxes, called Carbohydrate Responsive Element (ChoRE). How the ChREBP-MLX hetero-tetramerization is achieved and regulated, remains poorly understood.