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Isolation and sequence‐specific DNA binding of the Antennapedia homeodomain.
Author(s) -
Müller M.,
Affolter M.,
Leupin W.,
Otting G.,
Wüthrich K.,
Gehring W. J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1988.tb03328.x
Subject(s) - biology
The homeodomain encoded by the Antennapedia (Antp) gene of Drosophila was overproduced in a T7 expression vector in Escherichia coli. The corresponding polypeptide of 68 amino acids was purified to homogeneity. The homeodomain was analysed by ultracentrifugation and assayed for DNA binding. The secondary structure of the isolated homeodomain was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. DNA‐binding studies indicate that the isolated homeodomain binds to DNA in vitro. It selectively binds to the same sites as a longer Antp polypeptide and a full‐length fushi tarazu (ftz) protein. Therefore, the homeodomain represents the DNA‐binding domain of the homeotic proteins.