| First Author | Furukubo-Tokunaga K | Year | 1993 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 90 |
| Pages | 6360-4 | PubMed ID | 8101003 |
| Abstract Text | The segmental identity in animal development is determined by a set of homeotic selector genes clustered in the invertebrate HOM or vertebrate Hox homeo box complexes. These genes encode proteins with very similar homeodomains and highly diverged N- and C-terminal sequences. The Antennapedia (Antp) homeodomain, for instance, differs at only five amino acid positions from that of Sex combs reduced (Scr) protein. Using a heat shock assay in which chimeric Antp-Scr proteins are expressed ectopically in Drosophila, we have shown that the functional specificity of the Antp protein is determined by the four specific amino acids located in the flexible N-terminal arm of the homeodomain. The three-dimensional structure of the Antp homeodomain-DNA complex shows that this N-terminal arm is located in the minor groove of the DNA, suggesting that the functional specificity is determined either by slight differences in DNA binding and/or by selective interactions with other transcription factor(s). | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.90.13.6360 |
| Issue | 13 | Month | Jul |
