START lipid/sterol-binding domains are amplified in plants and are predominantly associated with homeodomain transcription factors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In animals, steroid hormones regulate gene expression by binding to nuclear receptors. Plants lack genes for nuclear receptors, yet genetic evidence from Arabidopsis suggests developmental roles for lipids/sterols analogous to those in animals. In contrast to nuclear receptors, the lipid/sterol-binding StAR-related lipid transfer (START) protein domains are conserved, making them candidates for involvement in both animal and plant lipid/sterol signal transduction.

Results

We surveyed putative START domains from the genomes of Arabidopsis, rice, animals, protists and bacteria. START domains are more common in plants than in animals and in plants are primarily found within homeodomain (HD) transcription factors. The largest subfamily of HD-START proteins is characte

SUBMITTER: Schrick K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC463074 | biostudies-literature | 2004

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature