COMBINATORIAL TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS

Combinatorial regulation of eukaryotic transcription is mediated by pr oteins that associate in a specific manner to form multiprotein DNA-bo und complexes. Substantial progress has recently been made towards the understanding of the molecular determinants of the protein-protein an d protein-DNA interactions that govern assembly of these complexes. Th ree-dimensional structures have been determined of the MAT alpha 2/MCM 1-DNA complex, the p50/p65 Rel homology domain heterodimer bound to DN A, the NFAT/Fos-Jun/DNA quaternary complex, and of the GABP alpha/beta ETS domain-ankyrin repeat heterodimer bound to DNA.