Cooperative activation of muscle gene expression by MEF2 and myogenic bHLH proteins

Jeffery D. Molkentin, Brian L. Black, James F. Martin, Eric N. Olson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

712 Scopus citations

Abstract

Members of the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of MADS domain transcription factors cannot induce myogenesis in transfected fibroblasts, but when coexpressed with the myogenic basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins MyoD or myogenin they dramatically increase the extent of myogenic conversion above that seen with either myogenic bHLH factor alone. This cooperativity required direct interactions between the DNA-binding domains of MEF2 and the myogenic bHLH factors, but only one of the factors needed a transactivation domain, and only one of the factors needed to be bound to DNA. These interactions allow either factor to activate transcription through the other's binding site and reveal a novel mechanism for indirect activation of gene expression via protein-protein interactions between the DNA-binding domains of heterologous classes of transcription factors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1125-1136
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume83
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 29 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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