Abstract
The ets genes family encodes a group of proteins which function as transcription factors under physiological conditions. We report here that the Erg proteins, members of the Ets family, form homo and heterodimeric complexes in vitro. We demonstrate that the Ergp55 protein isoform forms dimers with itself and with the two other isoforms, Ergp49 and Ergp38. Using a set of Erg protein deletion mutants, we define two distinct domains independently involved in dimerization. The first one is located in the amino-terminal part of the protein containing the pointed domain (PNT), conserved in a subset of Ets proteins. The second one resides within the ETS domain, the DNA-binding domain. We also show that the Erg protein central region behaves as an inhibitory domain of dimerization and its removal enhances the Ergp55 transactivation properties. Furthermore, Ergp55 forms heterodimers with some other Ets proteins. Among the latter, we show that Fli-1, Ets-2, Er81 and Pu-1 physically interact with Erg. Finally, we show that the formation of the previously described ternary complex Ergp55/Fos/jun is mediated by ETS domain and Jun protein, while the ternary complex Ergp49/Fos/Jun is mediated by Fos protein.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 50 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $5.18 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carrère, S., Verger, A., Flourens, A. et al. Erg proteins, transcription factors of the Ets family, form homo, heterodimers and ternary complexes via two distinct domains. Oncogene 16, 3261–3268 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1201868
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1201868
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Aberrant expression of miR-9/9* in myeloid progenitors inhibits neutrophil differentiation by post-transcriptional regulation of ERG
Leukemia (2016)
-
The oncogene ERG: a key factor in prostate cancer
Oncogene (2016)
-
MAPK/ERK2 phosphorylates ERG at serine 283 in leukemic cells and promotes stem cell signatures and cell proliferation
Leukemia (2016)
-
ETS transcription factors in embryonic vascular development
Angiogenesis (2016)
-
ERG induces taxane resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer
Nature Communications (2014)