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. 1996 Jun 1;24(11):2112–2118. doi: 10.1093/nar/24.11.2112

Transcriptional activation by Oct-3: evidence for a specific role of the POU-specific domain in mediating functional interaction with Oct-1.

M A Vigano 1, L M Staudt 1
PMCID: PMC145896  PMID: 8668543

Abstract

Oct-3, a member of the POU family of transcription factors, is expressed in pluripotent cells of early mammalian embryos and in undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma cell lines. Using a variety of Oct-3 mutants, we have identified two different domains of Oct-3 which activate transcription in transfected mammalian cells. One of these domains, located in the C-terminal part of the protein, plays a major role in transcriptional activation when Oct-3 is bound to its cognate site, the octamer motif. An Oct-3 mutant containing a single amino acid substitution in the POU homeodomain is unable to bind the octamer target in vitro, yet is still able to activate transcription in an octamer-dependent manner. We provide evidence that transactivation by this mutant involves protein-protein interactions with the ubiquitous octamer binding factor Oct-1. This interaction requires the POU-specific domain of Oct-3 and allows recruitment of Oct-3 to the target promoter even in the absence of Oct-3 DNA binding.

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Selected References

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