Function and specificity of synthetic Hox transcription factors in vivo

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0914595107
• Publication Date: 2010-02-11T05:29:25Z
• Authors: Dimitrios K. Papa...; Vladana Vukojević; Yoshitsugu Adachi; Lars Terenius; Rudolf Rigler; Walter J. Gehring
• Keywords: Transcription

Homeotic ( Hox ) genes encode transcription factors that confer segmental identity along the anteroposterior axis of embryo. However molecular mechanisms underlying -mediated and differential requirements for specificity in regulation vast number -target remain ill-defined. Here we show synthetic Sex combs reduced Scr C terminus containing homedomain (HD) YPWM motif (Scr-HD) are functional vivo. Synthetic Scr-HD peptides can induce ectopic salivary glands embryo homeotic transformations adult fly, act as transcriptional activators repressors during development, participate protein-protein interactions. Their transformation capacity was found to be enhanced over their full-length counterpart mutations known transform protein into constitutively active or inactive variants behaved accordingly peptides. Our results -HD sufficient function Drosophila suggest N has a role potency, rather than specificity. We also demonstrate behave largely predictable way, by exhibiting -specific phenotypes throughout which makes them an important tool biology.