Polymerization of ZBTB transcription factors regulates chromatin occupancy.
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Abstract | BCL6, an oncogenic transcription factor (TF), forms polymers in the presence of a small-molecule molecular glue that stabilizes a complementary interface between homodimers of BCL6's broad-complex, tramtrack, and bric-Ã -brac (BTB) domain. The BTB domains of other proteins, including a large class of TFs, have similar architectures and symmetries, raising the possibility that additional BTB proteins self-assemble into higher-order structures. Here, we surveyed 189 human BTB proteins with a cellular fluorescent reporter assay and identified 18 ZBTB TFs that show evidence of polymerization. Through biochemical and cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies, we demonstrate that these ZBTB TFs polymerize into filaments. We found that BTB-domain-mediated polymerization of ZBTB TFs enhances chromatin occupancy within regions containing homotypic clusters of TF binding sites, leading to repression of target genes. Our results reveal a role of higher-order structures in regulating ZBTB TFs and suggest an underappreciated role for TF polymerization in modulating gene expression. |
Year of Publication | 2024
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Journal | Molecular cell
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Volume | 84
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Issue | 13
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Pages | 2511-2524.e8
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Date Published | 07/2024
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ISSN | 1097-4164
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DOI | 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.06.010
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PubMed ID | 38996460
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