Ubiquitous MEIS transcription factors actuate lineage-specific transcription to establish cell fate.

ABSTRACT: Control of gene expression is commonly mediated by distinct combinations of transcription factors (TFs). This cooperative action allows the integration of multiple biological signals at regulatory elements, resulting in highly specific gene expression patterns. It is unclear whether combinatorial binding is also necessary to bring together TFs with distinct biochemical functions, which collaborate to effectively recruit and activate RNA polymerase II. Using a cardiac differentiation model, we find that the largely ubiquitous homeodomain proteins MEIS act as actuators, fully activating transcriptional programs selected by lineage-restricted TFs. Combinatorial binding of MEIS with lineage-enriched TFs, GATA, and HOX, provides selectivity, guiding MEIS to function at cardiac-specific enhancer

SUBMITTER: Darieva Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12000411 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature