Meeting Abstract
99.8 Monday, Jan. 6 15:15 Klf/Sp transcription factor family expansion, diversification, and innovation in the Unikonta PRESNELL, JS*; SCHNITZLER, CE; BROWNE, WE; University of Miami, FL; National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD; University of Miami, FL j.presnell@umiami.edu
The Krüppel-like factor (Klf) gene family consists of two groups of transcription factors, Klf and Specificity protein (Sp) factors. KLF/SP proteins bind GT box and GC-rich DNA sequences associated with gene regulatory regions through a highly conserved DNA binding domain (DBD) composed of three C-terminal C2H2 zinc fingers (KLF-DBD). Members of the Klf gene family influence transcription via interactions with other transcription factors, cofactors, chromatin remodeling factors, and transcriptional machinery components. These protein-protein interactions are mediated by an array of transactivation domains typically found N-terminal of the KLF-DBD. Collectively the Klf/Sp genes play key roles in a variety of critical biological processes including cell proliferation, stem cell maintenance, embryonic development, and tissue differentiation and they have been implicated in a number of human diseases and cancers. Many Klf/Sp genes have been characterized in a handful of bilaterian lineages, however very little is known about the Klf gene family in non-bilaterians and virtually nothing is known outside of the metazoans. We identified and characterized the complete Klf/Sp gene complement from the genomes of 14 lineages spanning the Unikonta. We also examined the phylogenetic distribution of transactivation domains associated with the Klf gene family. Within the Metazoa, the expansion of the Klf gene family transactivation repertoire is strongly associated with the expansion of cell type complexity. Our results indicate that expansion of the Klf gene family is paralleled by transactivation domain diversification via both the acquisition of pre-existing ancient domains as well as by the appearance of novel domains exclusive to the Klf gene family.
