Date of Award

Summer 8-7-2012

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Dr. Aimin Liu

Second Advisor

Dr. David Wilson

Third Advisor

Dr. Donald Hamelberg

Abstract

The transcription factor NF-κB interacts with many other co-regulator proteins that modulate its binding and transcriptional activity. One of these co-regulators, Pirin, is an iron-dependent metalloprotein that has been shown to enhance the DNA binding of NF-κB homodimers. Here, we characterize the interactions between Pirin and its known NF-κB binding partners and examined the role of Bcl-3, a protein that is required for Pirin’s interaction with p50. In addition, we use site-directed mutagenesis to alter conserved residues within Pirin’s metal binding environment and observed how it affected the DNA binding and conformation of the Pirin-NF-κB complex. These studies show that, while a similar enhancing effect on DNA binding is observed, the interactions of Pirin with different NF-κB members are distinct from each other and could possibly have different physiological purposes.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/3099527

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