Regulation of ETS transcription factors: auto-inhibition and fuzzy complexes

Synopsis

Transcription factors, such as those of the ETS family, translate the genetic information of an organism by binding specific promoter/enhancer sequences, recruiting additional transcriptional machinery, and responding to signaling pathways. The aberrant activities of these factors, or their upstream regulators, frequently lead to dysregulated gene expression and oncogenesis. Our overall goal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying control of ETS factors by DNA-binding autoinhibition, protein partnerships and post-translational modifications. An overarching theme of the following aims also lies with understanding the central role of protein dynamics in biological regulation.