Meeting Abstract
Transcription factors regulate expression of the genome through specific binding to particular sequence motifs as well as protein-protein interactions. Members of the bZIP and bHLH-PAS families of transcription factors have roles in diverse molecular processes, including the circadian clock and antioxidant response for many animals. Although comparative genomics has shown these gene families are present and diverse in cnidarians, we currently know little about the shared and unique functions for particular bZIP and bHLH-PAS proteins in this phylum. Here, we report on our studies of the expression and binding preferences for bZIP protein in the PAR family and bHLH-PAS proteins related to the circadian clock from the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. We have successfully cloned and optimized expression for seven of these transcription factors as bacterial recombinant GST fusion proteins. We will also describe results from ongoing approaches to determine the diversity of DNA binding motifs for each protein. Results from these assays will aid in determining potential target genes for these transcription factors and how the expression of these genes varies over a diel lighting period.
