PROSITE documentation PDOC51032AP2/ERF domain profile
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PURL: https://purl.expasy.org/prosite/documentation/PDOC51032
Ethylene is an endogenous plant hormone that influences many aspects of plant growth and development. Some defense related genes that are induced by ethylene were found to contain a cis-regulatory element known as the Ethylene-Responsive Element (ERE) [1]. Sequence analysis on various ERE regions identified a short motif rich in G/C nucleotides, the GCC-box, essential for the response to ethylene. This short motif is recognized by a family of transcrition factors, the ERE binding factors (ERF) [2,3].
ERF proteins contain an about 60 amino acid region which is also found in the APETALA2 (AP2) protein, the AP2/ERF domain [4]. It has been shown in various proteins that the AP2/ERF domain is necessary and sufficient to bind GCC-box [5].
The structure of the AP2/ERF domain in complex with the target DNA has been solved (see <PDB:1GCC>) [6]. The structure resemble that of bacteriophage integrases and the methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) (see <PDOC50982>): a three-stranded β-sheet and an α helice almost parallel to the β-sheet. It contacts DNA via Arg and Trp residues located in the β-sheet.
Some proteins known to contain an AP2/ERF domain are listed below:
- Arabidopsis thaliana ERF1 to 6.
- Tobacco ethylene-responsive element-binding proteins (EREBPs), homologues of ERFs proteins.
- Arabidopsis thaliana AP2 protein. It regulates meristeme identity, floral organ specification and seed coat development.
- Arabidopsis thaliana C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element (DRE) binding factor 1 (CBF1 or DREB1) and DREB2. They bind a GCC-box-like element found in dehydratation responsive element. Binding to this element mediates cold-inducible transcription.
- Arabidopsis thaliana and maize abscisic acid (ABA)-insensitive 4 (ABI4) proteins. They bind to a GCC-box-like element found in ABA-responsive genes.
- Octadecanoid-derivative responsive catharenthus AP2-domain (ORCA2) protein. It binds a GCC-box-like element in the jasmonate responsive element of Str promoter.
- Tomato Pto-interacting proteins 4 to 6 (Pti4 to Pti6). Pti5 and 6 bind a GCC-box-like element in regulatory regions of various pathogenesis-related (PR) genes.
- Trichodesmium erythraeum, Tetrahymena thermophila, Enterobacteria phage RB49 and bacteriophage Felix 01 HNH endonucleases. HNH endonucleases are homing endonucleases that move extensively via lateral gene transfer [7].
The profile we developed covers the whole AP2/ERF domain.
Last update:November 2004 / First entry.
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PROSITE method (with tools and information) covered by this documentation:
| 1 | Authors | Broglie K.E. Biddle P. Cressman R. Broglie R. |
| Title | Functional analysis of DNA sequences responsible for ethylene regulation of a bean chitinase gene in transgenic tobacco. | |
| Source | Plant Cell 1:599-607(1989). | |
| PubMed ID | 2535512 | |
| DOI | 10.1105/tpc.1.6.599 |
| 2 | Authors | Ohme-Takagi M. Shinshi H. |
| Source | Plant Cell 7:173-182(1995). |
| 3 | Authors | Fujimoto S.Y. Ohta M. Usui A. Shinshi H. Ohme-Takagi M. |
| Title | Arabidopsis ethylene-responsive element binding factors act as transcriptional activators or repressors of GCC box-mediated gene expression. | |
| Source | Plant Cell 12:393-404(2000). | |
| PubMed ID | 10715325 |
| 4 | Authors | Weigel D. |
| Title | The APETALA2 domain is related to a novel type of DNA binding domain. | |
| Source | Plant Cell 7:388-389(1995). | |
| PubMed ID | 7773013 | |
| DOI | 10.1105/tpc.7.4.388 |
| 5 | Authors | Hao D. Ohme-Takagi M. Sarai A. |
| Title | Unique mode of GCC box recognition by the DNA-binding domain of ethylene-responsive element-binding factor (ERF domain) in plant. | |
| Source | J. Biol. Chem. 273:26857-26861(1998). | |
| PubMed ID | 9756931 |
| 6 | Authors | Allen M.D. Yamasaki K. Ohme-Takagi M. Tateno M. Suzuki M. |
| Title | A novel mode of DNA recognition by a beta-sheet revealed by the solution structure of the GCC-box binding domain in complex with DNA. | |
| Source | EMBO J. 17:5484-5496(1998). | |
| PubMed ID | 9736626 | |
| DOI | 10.1093/emboj/17.18.5484 |
| 7 | Authors | Magnani E. Sjolander K. Hake S. |
| Title | From endonucleases to transcription factors: evolution of the AP2 DNA binding domain in plants. | |
| Source | Plant Cell 16:2265-2277(2004). | |
| PubMed ID | 15319480 | |
| DOI | 10.1105/tpc.104.023135 |
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