The transcription factor YY2 has less momentous properties of an intrinsically disordered protein than its paralog YY1

FEBS Lett. 2019 Jul;593(14):1787-1798. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.13457. Epub 2019 Jun 7.

Abstract

The transcription factor YY2 is a recently discovered paralog of YY1. The two proteins exhibit substantial sequence similarity and partially similar transcriptional activity. They recognize the same DNA sequence in vitro yet bind different promoters in vivo. YY1 comprises two structurally distinct parts: an intrinsically disordered regulatory part and a compact DNA-binding domain. The structure of YY2 is yet unknown. We show that YY2 is structurally similar to YY1, although the conformational state of YY2 is more ordered, as shown by its composition, hydrodynamic properties, spectroscopic signal, and proteolytic susceptibility. As such, YY2's range of molecular partners might be distinct from that of YY1. This could explain different effects of YY1 and YY2 on gene expression patterns and the mechanism of YY proteins in transcriptional regulation.

Keywords: YY1; YY2; hydrodynamics; intrinsically disordered protein; specroscopy; transcriptional regulation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid*
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • YY1 Transcription Factor / chemistry*
  • YY1 Transcription Factor / metabolism*

Substances

  • Transcription Factors
  • YY1 Transcription Factor
  • YY1 protein, human
  • YY2 protein, human