Combinatorial gene control involving E2F and E Box family members

EMBO J. 2004 Mar 24;23(6):1336-47. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600134. Epub 2004 Mar 4.

Abstract

Various studies point to the potential role of combinatorial action of transcription factors as a mechanism to achieve the complexity of eukaryotic gene control with a finite number of regulatory proteins. Our previous work has focused on interactions involving the E2F family of transcription factors as an example of combinatorial gene control, leading to the identification of TFE3 and YY1 as transcription partners for several E2F proteins. We now show that additional E2F target genes share a common promoter architecture and are also regulated by the combined action of TFE3 and E2F3. In contrast, the thymidine kinase (TK-1) promoter is also regulated by E2F3 but independent of TFE3. Other promoters exhibit distinct specificity in the interaction with E2F proteins that includes a role for E2F1 but not E2F3, examples where both E2F1 and E2F3 are seen to interact, and promoters that are regulated by TFE3 but independent of an E2F. We propose that these examples of combinatorial interactions involving E2F proteins provide a basis for the specificity of transcription control in the Rb/E2F pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • DNA Polymerase I / genetics
  • DNA Polymerase I / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • E-Box Elements / genetics*
  • E2F Transcription Factors
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor
  • E2F3 Transcription Factor
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics
  • Upstream Stimulatory Factors

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • E2F Transcription Factors
  • E2F1 Transcription Factor
  • E2F3 Transcription Factor
  • E2f1 protein, mouse
  • E2f3 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • Upstream Stimulatory Factors
  • Tcfe3 protein, mouse
  • DNA Polymerase I