Modulation of DNA Binding Specificity by Alternative Splicing of the Wilms Tumor wt1 Gene Transcript

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1321494
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T23:03:06Z
• Authors: W. A. Bickmore; K. Oghene; M. H. Little; A. Seawright; V. van Heyningen; N. D. Hastie
• Keywords: Egr-1; Transcription, Genetic; Locus; RNA Splicing; Molecular Sequence Data; Sequences; Binding, Competitive; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Wilms Tumor; Deletion; 03 medical and health sciences; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Finger; Humans; Amino Acid Sequence; RNA, Messenger; WT1 Proteins; 0303 health sciences; Genome; Binding Sites; Base Sequence; Protein; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; Zinc Fingers; DNA; DNA-Binding Proteins; Early Growth-Response

The technique of whole-genome polymerase chain reaction was used to study the DNA binding properties product wt1 gene. zinc finger region this gene is alternatively spliced such that major transcript encodes a protein with three extra amino acids between third and fourth fingers. minor form binds specifically DNA. It now shown messenger RNA specificity differs from form. Therefore, alternative splicing within domain transcription factor can generate proteins distinct specificities probably different physiological targets.