Part:BBa_K243028

pMA FOS-Split Linker-Fok_a

Activator protein-1 (AP-1) is a crucial transcription factor implicated in numerous cancers which binds DNA as a dimer. Two classes of core DNA sequences, the sequences TRE (TGACTCA) and CRE (TGACGTCA), can be recognized by the AP-1. Nine homologues of the AP-1 leucine zipper region have been characterized. All of them is able to form heterodimers, some also form homodimers. One of them is the so called c-Fos. Via leucin zipper they interact among each other and with their bipartite domain they bind DNA. (Abate et al., Mol Cell Biol. 1991 July). The dimerisation of the molecules generates the AP-1 transcription factor for upregulation of several different genes.

Heterodimeric Fos complex (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/explore/images.do?structureId=1FOS)

Usage and Biology

To avoid the labeling of oligos we tried an alternative way of binding of the heterodimeric Fok to the DNA. Split Linker-Fok_a can be fused with Fos. The mixture of this construct with an other hybrid protein GST-FosW-His (simultanously expressed) allows the dimerization of Fos and therefore its binding at their target sequence TRE (TGACTCA) or CRE (TGACGTCA).