An ancient protein-DNA interaction underlying metazoan sex determination
Abstract
DMRT transcription factors are deeply conserved regulators of metazoan sexual development. They share the DM DNA-binding domain, a unique intertwined double zinc-binding module followed by a C-terminal recognition helix, which binds a pseudopalindromic target DNA. In this paper, we show that DMRT proteins use a unique binding interaction, inserting two adjacent antiparallel recognition helices into a widened DNA major groove to make base-specific contacts. Versatility in how specific base contacts are made allows human DMRT1 to use multiple DNA binding modes (tetramer, trimer and dimer). Chromatin immunoprecipitation with exonuclease treatment (ChIP-exo) indicates that multiple DNA binding modes also are used in vivo. We show that mutations affecting residues crucial for DNA recognition are associated with an intersex phenotype in flies and with male-to-female sex reversal in humans. Finally, our results illuminate an ancient molecular interaction underlying much of metazoan sexual development.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States). Dept. of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States). Dept. of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics
- Pasteur Inst., Paris (France). Unit of Human Developmental Genetics
- Cornell Univ., Argonne, IL (United States). Northeastern Collaborative Access Team
- Hospital Center of Dunkirk (France). Pediatric Ward
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States). Dept. of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development. Masonic Cancer Center. Developmental Biology Center
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States). Dept. of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics. Masonic Cancer Center
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Inst. of Health (NIH) (United States); European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) (Belgium)
- Contributing Org.:
- Pasteur Inst., Paris (France); Cornell Univ., Argonne, IL (United States); Hospital Center of Dunkirk (France)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1184236
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357; P41 GM103403; GM59152; GM50399; AI087098; GM095558; BM1303
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 22; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 1545-9993
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
- Subject:
- 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; DMRT protein; DM domain; sex determination; DMRT1; DNA-binding proteins; transcription factors
Citation Formats
Murphy, Mark W., Lee, John K., Rojo, Sandra, Gearhart, Micah D., Kurahashi, Kayo, Banerjee, Surajit, Loeuille, Guy-André, Bashamboo, Anu, McElreavey, Kenneth, Zarkower, David, Aihara, Hideki, and Bardwell, Vivian J. An ancient protein-DNA interaction underlying metazoan sex determination. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1038/nsmb.3032.
Murphy, Mark W., Lee, John K., Rojo, Sandra, Gearhart, Micah D., Kurahashi, Kayo, Banerjee, Surajit, Loeuille, Guy-André, Bashamboo, Anu, McElreavey, Kenneth, Zarkower, David, Aihara, Hideki, & Bardwell, Vivian J. An ancient protein-DNA interaction underlying metazoan sex determination. United States. doi:10.1038/nsmb.3032.
Murphy, Mark W., Lee, John K., Rojo, Sandra, Gearhart, Micah D., Kurahashi, Kayo, Banerjee, Surajit, Loeuille, Guy-André, Bashamboo, Anu, McElreavey, Kenneth, Zarkower, David, Aihara, Hideki, and Bardwell, Vivian J. Mon .
"An ancient protein-DNA interaction underlying metazoan sex determination". United States. doi:10.1038/nsmb.3032. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1184236.
@article{osti_1184236,
title = {An ancient protein-DNA interaction underlying metazoan sex determination},
author = {Murphy, Mark W. and Lee, John K. and Rojo, Sandra and Gearhart, Micah D. and Kurahashi, Kayo and Banerjee, Surajit and Loeuille, Guy-André and Bashamboo, Anu and McElreavey, Kenneth and Zarkower, David and Aihara, Hideki and Bardwell, Vivian J.},
abstractNote = {DMRT transcription factors are deeply conserved regulators of metazoan sexual development. They share the DM DNA-binding domain, a unique intertwined double zinc-binding module followed by a C-terminal recognition helix, which binds a pseudopalindromic target DNA. In this paper, we show that DMRT proteins use a unique binding interaction, inserting two adjacent antiparallel recognition helices into a widened DNA major groove to make base-specific contacts. Versatility in how specific base contacts are made allows human DMRT1 to use multiple DNA binding modes (tetramer, trimer and dimer). Chromatin immunoprecipitation with exonuclease treatment (ChIP-exo) indicates that multiple DNA binding modes also are used in vivo. We show that mutations affecting residues crucial for DNA recognition are associated with an intersex phenotype in flies and with male-to-female sex reversal in humans. Finally, our results illuminate an ancient molecular interaction underlying much of metazoan sexual development.},
doi = {10.1038/nsmb.3032},
journal = {Nature Structural & Molecular Biology},
number = 6,
volume = 22,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {5}
}
Web of Science
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