GAS41 Interacts With Transcription Factor AP-2β And Stimulates Its Transcriptional Activity

Transcription factors tightly regulate gene expression in response to intra- and extracellular stimuli, and they often play a central role in determining cell fate by controlling the fundamental mechanism of gene transcription. Transcription factor AP-2 plays an important role in regulating transcription of a number of genes in mammalian development, differentiation and carcinogenesis. Recent studies have shown that interaction parters can modulate the transcription activity of AP-2 over the downstream targets. AP-2β, as a main member of AP-2 transcription factors, is a cell-type specific protein involved in many neural, epidermal and urogenital development. Patients inheriting Char syndrome have patent ductus arteriosus , craniofacial abnormalities , and fifth finger defects. Recently, missense AP-2β gene mutations were shown to cause Char syndrome. And the phenotype in mice lacking AP-2β was restricted to the kidneys where cysts arose due to excessive apoptosis of renal tubular epithelia. However, To date, no AP-2β -interacting protein has been reported yet. In searching for AP-2β -interacting factors, we used AP-2β as a bait to screen a HeLa cDNA library in yeast two-hybrid system and identified the GAS41 protein as the interaction partner. The interaction between the two proteins was confirmed in vivo by Co-immunoprecipitation and Co-localization and demonstrated in vitro by GST Pull-down assay. The interaction domains between the two proteins were mapped to the C-terminus of GAS41...