Structural changes in TAF4b-TFIID correlate with promoter selectivity - PubMed (original) (raw)

Comparative Study

Structural changes in TAF4b-TFIID correlate with promoter selectivity

Wei-Li Liu et al. Mol Cell. 2008.

Abstract

Proper ovarian development requires the cell type-specific transcription factor TAF4b, a subunit of the core promoter recognition complex TFIID. We present the 35 A structure of a cell type-specific core promoter recognition complex containing TAF4b and TAF4 (4b/4-IID), which is responsible for directing transcriptional synergy between c-Jun and Sp1 at a TAF4b target promoter. As a first step toward correlating potential structure/function relationships of the prototypic TFIID versus 4b/4-IID, we have compared their 3D structures by electron microscopy and single-particle reconstruction. These studies reveal that TAF4b incorporation into TFIID induces an open conformation at the lobe involved in TFIIA and putative activator interactions. Importantly, this open conformation correlates with differential activator-dependent transcription and promoter recognition by 4b/4-IID. By combining functional and structural analysis, we find that distinct localized structural changes in a megadalton macromolecular assembly can significantly alter its activity and lead to a TAF4b-induced reprogramming of promoter specificity.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1. Isolation of cell type-specific 4b-IIDs

(A) Schematic representation of the purification procedure of 4b-IID from Daudi cells. 4b/4-IID was obtained by tandem immunoprecipitations from the fractions eluted from the phosphocellulose 1M KCl step using anti-TAF4b and anti-TAF4 antibodies. (B) Distinct TFIID complexes (i.e. HeLa 4/4-IID and Daudi 4b/4-IID) were analyzed by 4-12% SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen) and visualized by silver staining. The star indicates a weak band corresponding to TAF11.

Figure 2

Figure 2. The basal transcriptional activities of distinct TFIID complexes

(A) The protein levels of 4/4- and 4b/4-IID complexes were examined by immunoblotting analysis using monoclonal antibodies against TAF1, TAF4, TAF4b and TBP. (B) Equivalent amounts (0, 20, 50, and 100 ng) of 4/4-IID and 4b/4-IID were added respectively into each reaction containing synthetic G3 promoter DNA template. The activities were quantified using a Typhoon scanner (Amersham Biosciences). Relative activities were calculated in comparison with the activity obtained from the lowest amount (20 ng) of 4/4-IID used. Each reaction was repeated several times and the representative data are shown (left panel). The arrows indicate the target transcripts. Error bars represent the standard deviations from at least three independent experiments (right panel).

Figure 3

Figure 3. Distinct transcriptional activities of TAF4b-target genes by 4b/4-IID

(A) Reactions were performed and quantitated exactly as described in Figure 2B, except that the native c-jun promoter template, a control hdm2 promoter (B), or native inhibin-βA subunit promoter (C) was utilized. The stars indicate non-specific transcripts. Error bars represent the standard deviations from at least three independent experiments.

Figure 4

Figure 4. Putative co-activator functions of 4b/4-IID

4b/4- or 4/4-IID (0 or 3 ng) were added to the transcription reactions containing c-jun, hdm2, or G3 promoter DNA templates in the absence or the presence of the activators c-Jun, Sp1, or both, respectively. The relative fold activation of individual TFIIDs were calculated based upon their relative activities that are measured in comparison to the activity with no addition of activators using the same promoter DNA. Error bars represent the standard deviations from at least three independent experiments.

Figure 5

Figure 5. Elevated occupancy of activator binding sites in a 4b/4-IID dependent manner

Activator occupancy on the endogenous c-jun promoter was analyzed by DNase I footprinting assay. The binding elements for various transcription factors within the promoter region are indicated. Along with 20 nM of TFIIA, c-Jun (0, 12, 30 and 120 ng) and Sp1 (0, 8, 20, and 80 ng) were incubated respectively in the absence (lanes 1-4) or the presence of either 4/4-IID (lanes 5-8) or 4b/4-IID (lanes 9-12). Data shown are representative of at least three independent experiments. Quantification of the data is shown in the right panels. The percentage of relative DNAse I digestion was calculated based upon the digestions of individual binding elements in comparison to the digestions without addition of any activators. 0X, 0.1X, 0.25X, and 1X represent the increasing amounts of c-Jun and Sp1 protein levels as listed above. Error bars represent the standard deviations from at least three independent experiments.

Figure 6

Figure 6. The 3D structure of 4b/4-IID and immunomapping of the TAF4b position within 4b/4-IID

(A) Different views of the 4b/4-IID EM structure with rotation angles are indicated. The major lobes are labeled as A, B, and C, and a smaller domain labeled as D lobe (see “BACK” view). The channel formed between the A and C lobes is labeled ChA-C. The arrow shown in the “FRONT” view indicates the undulating region located between the B and C lobes. The scale bar represents 100Å. (B) 3D difference density map between 4b/4-IID-anti-TAF4b and 4b/4-IID is shown in two different views. The yellow mesh corresponds to the 3D structure of 4b/4-IID with the A, B, C, and D lobes indicated. The extra densities (i.e. positive density differences) are shown in solid red. The most prominent difference region (indicated by the arrow) is located in the D lobe, close to C lobe and the central cavity, and was interpreted as the TAF4b antibody bound to 4b/4-IID.

Figure 7

Figure 7. Comparison of the 4b/4- and 4/4-IID 3D structures

Comparison from four different views (FRONT, BACK, SIDE, and TOP) of the 3D reconstructions of cell type-specific 4b/4-IID (left) and the canonical 4/4-IID (center). The distinct feature seen in the FRONT view is the ChA-C channel, which in 4/4-IID is significantly smaller than in 4b/4-IID (the curved arrows highlight this structural change). There is some missing density in 4b/4-IID located at the junction of A-C-D lobes (circles in the BACK view). Similarly, missing density was observed in 4/4-IID in the undulating region between B and C lobes (circles in the SIDE view). The right column shows the difference map between 4/4- and 4b/4-IID, with “red” representing positive differences and “green” representing negative differences. The “red” and “green” arrows point to the most significant positive and negative differences, respectively. The scale bar represents 100Å.

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