| Description |
Genetic information is used to direct synthesis of proteins. This process, called gene expression, is often regulated at the first step-the transcription of the genetic information in DNA into RNA. Transcription factors are important regulatory proteins that can activate or repress transcription by interacting with the cell's transcriptional machinery near the initiation site. However, many transcription factors bind to DNA thousands of nucleotides away from the initiation site. Several of these transcription factors that bind far from the initiation site have been found to induce a conformational change in DNA in order to interact with the transcriptional machinery at the initiation site. This thesis has focused on Ets-1 that is a member of the ets family of proteins. The Ets-1 protein is a sequence specific transcription factor that has a role in regulation', cell growth, differentiation, and transformation. The goal of this project was to test if and where Ets-1 induces DNA bending. A gel mobility assay was used with Ets-1 protein fragments to determine protein induced DNA bending. Several independent experiments indicate that Ets-1 fragments bend DNA between 25-35 degrees. These data have implications for Ets-1 protein as a regulatory protein in transcription control. Future experiments are needed to understand the direction of the bend. |
