Expedient chemical synthesis of 75mer DNA binding domain of MafA: an insight on its binding to insulin enhancer

Amino Acids. 2012 Nov;43(5):1995-2003. doi: 10.1007/s00726-012-1274-2. Epub 2012 Apr 4.

Abstract

An expedient chemical synthesis of a 75mer peptide corresponding to the DNA binding domain (DBD, 227-301) of the human MafA leucine zipper transcription factor is reported. The application of microwave-assisted solid phase peptide synthesis (MW-SPPS) with a protocol modified respect to the standard one allowed obtaining the desired 75mer peptide in a short time with high quantity and optimal purity. MW-SPPS methodology was thus demonstrated as a valuable alternative to recombinant methods to obtain protein domains. Considering that recent findings suggest an involvement of MafA in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, we also performed circular dichroism studies both on DBD folding and its interaction with MafA recognition element (MARE) on insulin enhancer. From our results, it was evicted that a disorder to order transition occurs after DBD interaction with insulin MARE which is mediated by specific structural elements on the N-terminus of the DBD.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Leucine Zippers / genetics*
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large / chemical synthesis*
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large / metabolism*
  • Microwaves
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques

Substances

  • Insulin
  • MAFA protein, human
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large