Signature of the oligomeric behaviour of nuclear receptors at the sequence and structural level.

ABSTRACT: Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-dependent transcription factors that control a large number of physiological events through the regulation of gene transcription. NRs function either as homodimers or as heterodimers with retinoid X receptor/ultraspiracle protein (RXR/USP). A structure-based sequence analysis aimed at discovering the molecular mechanism that controls the dimeric association of the ligand-binding domain reveals two sets of differentially conserved residues, which partition the entire NR superfamily into two classes related to their oligomeric behaviour. Site-directed mutagenesis confirms the functional importance of these residues for the dimerization process and/or transcriptional activity. All homodimers belong to class I, in which the related residues contribute a commu

SUBMITTER: Brelivet Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1299030 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature