Alpha-crystallins are involved in specific interactions with the murine gamma D/E/F-crystallin-encoding gene

Gene. 1994 Jul 8;144(2):171-8. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(94)90375-1.

Abstract

The promoter of the murine gamma E-crystallin (gamma E-Cry) encoding gene (gamma E-cry) was analyzed for specific interactions with lenticular proteins in a gel-retardation assay. A 21-bp fragment immediately downstream of the transcription initiation site (DOTIS) is demonstrated to be responsible for specific interactions with lens extracts. The DOTIS-binding protein(s) accept only the sense DNA strand as target; anti-sense or double-stranded DNA do not interact with these proteins. The DOTIS sequence element is highly conserved among the murine gamma D-, gamma E- and gamma F-cry and is present at comparable positions in the orthologous rat genes. Only a weak or even no protein-binding activity is observed if a few particular bases are changed, as in the rat gamma A-, gamma C- and gamma E-cry elements. DOTIS-binding proteins were found in commercially available bovine alpha-Cry preparations. The essential participation of alpha-Cry in the DNA-binding protein complex was confirmed using alpha-Cry-specific monoclonal antibody. The results reported here point to a novel function of alpha-Cry besides the structural properties in the lens.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cattle
  • Crystallins / genetics*
  • Crystallins / immunology
  • Crystallins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Rats

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Crystallins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Associated data

  • GENBANK/K02586
  • GENBANK/M19354
  • GENBANK/M19359
  • GENBANK/M19360
  • GENBANK/M19361
  • GENBANK/M19362
  • GENBANK/M19363
  • GENBANK/Z22573
  • GENBANK/Z22574