A non-canonical DNA structure is a binding motif for the transcription factor SP1 in vitro

Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 Feb;40(4):1499-508. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr882. Epub 2011 Oct 22.

Abstract

SP1 is a ubiquitous transcription factor that is involved in the regulation of various house-keeping genes. It is known that it acts by binding to a double-stranded consensus motif. Here, we have discovered that SP1 binds also to a non-canonical DNA structure, a G-quadruplex, with high affinity. In particular, we have studied the SP1 binding site within the promoter region of the c-KIT oncogene and found that this site can fold into an anti-parallel two-tetrad G-quadruplex. SP1 pull-down experiments from cellular extracts, together with biophysical binding assays revealed that SP1 has a comparable binding affinity for this G-quadruplex structure and the canonical SP1 duplex sequence. Using SP1 ChIP-on-chip data sets, we have also found that 87% of SP1 binding sites overlap with G-quadruplex forming sequences. Furthermore, while many of these immuoprecipitated sequences (36%) even lack the minimal SP1 consensus motif, 5'-GGGCGG-3', we have shown that 77% of them are putative G-quadruplexes. Collectively, these data suggest that SP1 is able to bind both, canonical SP1 duplex DNA as well as G-quadruplex structures in vitro and we hypothesize that both types of interactions may occur in cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Genome
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Nucleotide Motifs
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / metabolism*

Substances

  • Sp1 Transcription Factor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit