Norman C, Runswick M, Pollock R, Treisman R
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, MRC Centre, Cambridge, England.
Cell. 1988 Dec 23;55(6):989-1003. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(88)90244-9.
The serum response element (SRE) is a sequence required for transient transcriptional activation of genes in response to growth factors. We have isolated cDNA clones encoding serum response factor (SRF), a ubiquitous nuclear protein that binds to the SRE. The SRF gene is highly conserved through evolution, and in cultured cells its transcription is itself transiently increased following serum stimulation. A cDNA clone of SRF expressed in vitro generates protein that forms complexes indistinguishable from those formed with HeLa cell SRF, as judged by DNA binding specificity and the ability to promote SRE-dependent in vitro transcription. SRF binds DNA as a dimer, and the DNA binding/dimerization domain of the protein exhibits striking homology to two yeast regulatory proteins.
血清反应元件（SRE）是基因响应生长因子进行瞬时转录激活所必需的序列。我们已分离出编码血清反应因子（SRF）的cDNA克隆，SRF是一种与SRE结合的普遍存在的核蛋白。SRF基因在进化过程中高度保守，在培养细胞中，血清刺激后其转录本身会瞬时增加。通过DNA结合特异性和促进SRE依赖的体外转录的能力判断，体外表达的SRF cDNA克隆产生的蛋白质形成的复合物与HeLa细胞SRF形成的复合物无法区分。SRF以二聚体形式结合DNA，该蛋白的DNA结合/二聚化结构域与两种酵母调节蛋白具有显著同源性。
