Increasing the activity of affinity-purified DNA-binding proteins by adding high concentrations of nonspecific proteins

Metallothionein expression in HaCaT and C6 cell lines exposed to cadmium

Metallothioneins (MT) are low-molecular weight, cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins. MT play a role in the homeostasis of essential metals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), detoxification of toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd) and protection against oxidative stress. In this study, we examined the expression of MT in HaCaT and C6 cells as a strategy to enhance protection against Cd-mediated toxicity. At basal level, HaCaT cells showed higher MT level than C6 cells which could explain the resistance of HaCaT cells. Western blot showed that C6 cells treated with 20micromol/L Cd for 24h did not express any MT. MT were initially expressed in the cytoplasmic or periplasmic compartment and were then translocated in the nucleus after 24h treatment by Cd both in HaCaT and C6 cells. In addition, the cell treatment with Cd was followed by an increase in the cellular zinc level but the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) experiment did not show any translocation of metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) to the nucleus of HaCaT cells. These absence of translocation could be due to the presence of MT in these cells at the basal state. The translocation study in HaCaT cells suggested that the MT translocation in the nucleus was greater than observed in C6 cells. The latter observation could explain HaCaT cells resistance to Cd concentrations up to 50micromol/L. Our results suggested that the C6 cell sensitivity was correlated with the decrease in MT level at 20micromol/L Cd occurring after the transcription of MT gene.

Electrophoretic mobility shift assays for the analysis of DNA-protein interactions

Electromobility shift assay is a simple, efficient, and rapid method for the study of specific DNA-protein interactions. It relies on the reduction in the electrophoretic mobility conferred to a DNA fragment by an interacting protein. The technique is suitable to qualitative, quantitative, and kinetic analyses. It can also be used to analyze conformational changes.

Characterization and function of CREB homologue from Crassostrea ariakensis stimulated by rickettsia-like organism

The cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is a transcription factor that plays important roles in cellular growth, proliferation and survival. Here, we report that a homologue of CREB transcription factor, Ca-CREB, was identified and functionally characterized in oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis. The full-length cDNA consists of 1397bp with an ORF encoding a 39.3kDa protein. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that Ca-CREB shares conserved signature motifs with other CREB proteins. Ca-CREB was ubiquitously and constitutively expressed in oyster, and the expression level in hemocytes was higher than that in other tissues. The expression level of Ca-CREB was not modified after RLO stimulation, while tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression was increased obviously, which was revealed by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Western blotting showed that recombinant CREB proteins specifically bind the consensus CREB binding site, and DNA-binding activity and phosphorylation of Ca-CREB were induced by RLO. These results suggest that Ca-CREB is a CREB homologue and may be involved in immune responses against RLO.

Effect of the detergent Tween-20 on the DNA affinity chromatography of Gal4, C/EBPalpha, and lac repressor with observations on column regeneration

C/EBPalpha, Gal4, and lac repressor, representing three different transcription factor homology families, were expressed as fusion proteins and used to characterize the effects of column aging, Mg2+, the nonionic detergent Tween-20, column loading, and bovine serum albumin on DNA-affinity chromatography. When lac-repressor-beta-galactosidase fusion protein is loaded onto a new DNA-Sepharose column, less elutes from a new column than one that has been used two or more times. Higher amounts of lac repressor, the Green Fluorescent Protein fusions with CAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBPalpha) and Gal4, elute from the columns when 0.1% Tween-20 is added to the mobile phase. The amount of improvement found depends upon the transcription factor studied and the amount of the protein loaded on the column; lac repressor and Gal4 are eluted in higher amounts over a large range of protein loads while C/EBP shows the greatest effect at low protein loads. This detergent effect is seen when either Sepharose or silica is used for the stationary phase. Including bovine serum albumin in the mobile phase gives a similar though lesser improvement to that observed with Tween-20. Mg2+ or EDTA in the mobile phase gave similar chromatography for C/EBP; since EDTA protects columns from DNases, its inclusion in the mobile phase is preferred. After extended use, the DNA affinity columns no longer bind transcription factors and this is not due to losses of DNA from the columns. Two simple methods (sodium dodecylsulfate and KSCN) were developed to regenerate such worn out columns.

Methods for transcription factor separation

Recent advances in the separation of transcription factors (TFs) are reviewed in this article. An overview of the transcription factor families and their structure is discussed and a computer analysis of their sequences reveals that while they do not differ from other proteins in molecular mass or isoelectric pH, they do differ from other proteins in the abundance of certain amino acids. The chromatographic and electrophoretic methods which have been successfully used for purification and analysis are discussed and recent advances in stationary and mobile phase composition is discussed.

Characterization of transcription factors by mass spectrometry and the role of SELDI-MS

Over the last decade, much progress has been made in the field of biological mass spectrometry, with numerous advances in technology, resolution, and affinity capture. The field of genomics has also been transformed by the sequencing and characterization of entire genomes. Some of the next challenges lie in understanding the relationship between the genome and the proteome, the protein complement of the genome, and in characterizing the regulatory processes involved in progressing from gene to functional protein. In this new age of proteomics, development of mass spectrometry methods to characterize transcription factors promises to add greatly to our understanding of regulatory networks that govern expression. However, at this time, regulatory networks of transcription factors are mostly uncharted territory. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in characterization of transcription factors by mass spectrometry including affinity capture, identification of complexes of DNA-binding proteins, structural characterization, determination of protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions, assessment of modification sites and metal binding, studies of functional activity, and the latest chip technologies that use SELDI-MS that allow the rapid capture and identification of transcription factors.

The characterization and purification of a human transcription factor modulating the glutathione peroxidase gene in response to oxygen tension

An oxygen responsive transcription factor regulating human glutathione peroxidase gene (GPx) through two oxygen responsive elements (ORE I and ORE2) has been purified and characterized by sequence-specific DNA affinity chromatography. The DNA binding activity, termed Oxygen Responsive Element Binding Protein (OREBP), was partially represented by a 77 kD polypeptide (p70) possessing a blocked N-terminus. The p70 subunit co-eluted with an 86 kD subunit (p80) from affinity columns. N-terminal sequencing analysis of the 86 kD component revealed that this protein represented the larger member of the Ku antigen complex. The identity of the purified 77 kD subunit was determined by Western blot analysis using an antibody directed against the p70 protein. In addition to binding the GPx-ORE, the OREBP was itself regulated by oxygen tension. It was found that the abundance of the ORE binding activity was decreased in cells maintained at low oxygen tension (40 mm Hg). Anti-Ku-antibodies specifically supershifted the OREBP-ORE DNA complex. These observations further add to the numerous nuclear roles of the Ku-transcription factor.

Stability of the ligand-estrogen receptor interaction depends on estrogen response element flanking sequences and cellular factors

To determine whether accessory proteins mediate the ligand- and DNA sequence-dependent specificity of estrogen receptor (ER) interaction with DNA, the binding of partly purified vs highly purified bovine ER to various estrogen response elements (EREs) was measured in the presence of different ER ligands. Partly purified estradiol-liganded ER (E2-ER) binds cooperatively to stereoaligned tandem EREs flanked by naturally occurring AT-rich sequences, with a stoichiometry of one E2-ER dimer per ERE. In contrast, highly purified E2-ER binds with a 10-fold lower affinity and non-cooperatively to EREs flanked by the AT-rich region. Moreover, the binding stoichiometry of highly purified E2-ER was 0.5 E2-ER dimer, or one monomer per ERE, independent of the ERE flanking sequence. Interestingly, the binding of ER liganded with the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT-ER) was non-cooperative with an apparent stoichiometry of 0.5 4-OHT-ER dimer per ERE, regardless of ER purity or ERE flanking sequence. We recently showed that when 4-OHT-ER binds DNA, one molecule of 4-OHT dissociates from the dimeric 4-OHT-ER-ERE complex, accounting for the reduced apparent binding stoichiometry. In contrast, ER covalently bound by tamoxifen aziridine (TAz) gave an ERE binding stoichiometry of one TAz-ER dimer per ERE, and TAz-ER binds cooperatively to multiple AT-rich EREs, regardless of the purity of the receptor. We have obtained evidence that purification of ER removes an accessory protein(s) that interacts with ER in a sequence- and/or DNA conformational-dependent manner, resulting in stabilization of E2, but not 4-OHT, in the ligand binding domain when the receptor binds to DNA. We postulate that retention of ligand by ER maintains the receptor in a conformation necessary to achieve high-affinity, cooperative ERE binding.

Analysis of the structural properties of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and phosphorylated CREB

The transcription factor CREB (cAMP responsive element binding protein) is activated by protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation of a single serine residue. To investigate possible mechanisms of CREB regulation by phosphorylation, we initiated a structural and biophysical characterization of the full-length, wild-type CREB protein, an altered CREB protein (CREB/SER) in which the three cysteine residues in the DNA-binding domain were replaced with serine residues and a truncated protein (ACT265) which encompasses the entire activation domain of CREB. Circular dichroism (CD) reveals that CREB and CREB/SER have identical secondary structures and contain approximately 20% alpha-helix, 9% beta-strand, 34% beta-turn, and 37% random coil structures. PKA phosphorylation does not alter the CD spectra, and therefore the secondary structure, of CREB or of CREB bound to DNA. Protease cleavage patterns indicate that PKA phosphorylation does not induce a global conformational change in CREB. Furthermore, PKA phosphorylation does not change the DNA binding affinity of CREB for either canonical or non-canonical CRE sequences as measured by a fluorescence anisotropy DNA binding assay. Since PKA phosphorylation of CREB results in its specific binding to the transcriptional co-activators CREB-binding protein and p300, we suggest that the PKA activation of CREB occurs by the production of specific, complementary interactions with these proteins, rather than through the previously proposed mechanisms of a phosphorylation-dependent conformational change or increased DNA binding affinity.

Sequence specificity and transcriptional activation in the binding of lactoferrin to DNA

Lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein found in high concentrations in human milk and other epithelial secretions and in the secondary (specific) granules of neutrophils, is thought to be responsible for primary defence against microbial infection, mainly as a result of lactoferrin sequestration of iron required for microbial growth. Many other functions have been attributed to lactoferrin, including immunomodulation and cell growth regulation (reviewed in ref. 4). Some of these functions appear to be at least in part independent of the iron-binding activity of lactoferrin. It also has been consistently observed that lactoferrin interacts avidly with nucleic acids. Lactoferrin enhancement of the activity of natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cells in vitro is inhibited by RNA and DNA. Lactoferrin taken up by K562 human myelogenous leukaemia cells appears in the nucleus where it is bound to DNA. We report here that binding of lactoferrin to DNA occurs under stringent conditions with distinct sequence specificity, and that interaction between lactoferrin and these sequences intracellularly leads to transcriptional activation.

Binding of AP-1/CREB proteins and of MDBP to contiguous sites downstream of the human TGF-beta 1 gene

Transcription of the human gene encoding transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), which is a key regulator of cell growth and differentiation, is inducible by phorbol esters. DNA sequences resembling phorbol ester response elements (TREs) are present upstream and downstream of this gene. TREs are recognized by proteins from the AP-1 family of transcription factors. We examined a 16 basepair (bp) sequence downstream of the TGF-beta 1 gene that contains three putative TREs. This sequence had been shown to stimulate reporter gene expression from a downstream location in response to phorbol ester treatment. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays suggest that minor proteins from the related AP-1 and CREB families of transcription factors bind to the overlapping TREs within the 16 bp element. A site beginning at the end of this 16 bp element matches the consensus sequence of a DNA-binding protein called MDBP and was shown to bind to this protein. When the intact MDBP site was present in a reporter gene construct in addition to the TREs, the phorbol ester-induced stimulation of reporter gene expression was no longer observed. This suggests that MDBP can counteract the stimulation of transcription by AP-1/CREB-like proteins binding to this downstream enhancer element.

The affinity technology in downstream processing

The quality criteria imposed on several biochemicals are stringent, thus, high-separation purification technology is important to downstream processing. Affinity-based purification technologies are regarded as the finest available, and each one differs in its purifying ability, economy, processing speed and capacity. The most widely used affinity technology is classical affinity chromatography, however, other chromatography-based approaches have also been developed, for example, perfusion affinity chromatography, hyperdiffusion affinity chromatography, high-performance affinity chromatography, centrifugal affinity chromatography, affinity repulsion chromatography, heterobifunctional ligand affinity chromatography and the various chromatographic applications of 'affinity tails'. On the other hand, non-chromatographic affinity technologies aim at high throughput and seek to circumvent problems associated with diffusion limitations experienced with most chromatographic packings. Continuous affinity recycle extraction, aqueous two-phase affinity partitioning, membrane affinity filtration, affinity cross-flow ultrafiltration, reversible soluble affinity polymer separation and affinity precipitation are all non-chromatographic technologies. Several types of affinity ligands are used to different extents; antibodies and their fragments, receptors and their binding substances, avidin/biotin systems, textile and biomimetic dyes, (oligo)peptides, antisense peptides, chelated metal cations, lectins and phenylboronates, protein A and G, calmodulin, DNA, sequence-specific DNA, (oligo)nucleotides and heparin. Likewise, there are several support types developed and used; natural, synthetic, inorganic and composite materials.

Base preferences for DNA binding by the bHLH-Zip protein USF: effects of MgCl2 on specificity and comparison with binding of Myc family members

Studies of the DNA binding specificity of transcription factors belonging to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family have identified the so-called E-box, CACGTG, as being a high affinity specific binding sequence for this class of DNA binding proteins. Binding sequences for HeLa USF were selected from an initially random population of 20 bp sequences, defining the optimum USF binding sequence as R-5Y-4C-3A-2C-1G+1T+2G+3R+4Y+5. The significance of the flanking bases was further demonstrated by showing that USF and the related proteins c-Myc and Max discriminate between CACGTG-type E-boxes and that the primary means of discrimination appears to be the identity of the nucleotide at +/- 4, the presence of a T at -4 being inhibitory to binding by Myc but not by USF or Max. This suggests one mechanism by which bHLH factors are partitioned between multiple potential binding sequences in the promoters and enhancers of viral and cellular genes. It was also demonstrated that MgCl2 has a significant influence on USF DNA binding specificity. A broader range of USF binding sites was selected in the absence of MgCl2, conforming to the altered half-site consensus gTGaY. Binding studies with specific oligonucleotides demonstrated significantly improved tolerance to sequence variation at positions 1, 4, and to a lesser extent 5, of the GTGRY consensus in the absence of MgCl2. The results indicate that Mg2+ ions have an integral role in the formation of the USF-DNA complex.

The DNA-bending protein HMG-1 enhances progesterone receptor binding to its target DNA sequences

Steroid hormone receptors are ligand-dependent transcriptional activators that exert their effects by binding as dimers to cis-acting DNA sequences termed hormone response elements. When human progesterone receptor (PR), expressed as a full-length protein in a baculovirus system, was purified to homogeneity, it retained its ability to bind hormonal ligand and to dimerize but exhibited a dramatic loss in DNA binding activity for specific progesterone response elements (PREs). Addition of nuclear extracts from several cellular sources restored DNA binding activity, suggesting that PR requires a ubiquitous accessory protein for efficient interaction with specific DNA sequences. Here we have demonstrated that the high-mobility-group chromatin protein HMG-1, as a highly purified protein, dramatically enhanced binding of purified PR to PREs in gel mobility shift assays. This effect appeared to be highly selective for HMG-1, since a number of other nonspecific proteins failed to enhance PRE binding. Moreover, HMG-1 was effective when added in stoichiometric amounts with receptor, and it was capable of enhancing the DNA binding of both the A and B amino-terminal variants of PR. The presence of HMG-1 measurably increased the binding affinity of purified PR by 10-fold when a synthetic palindromic PRE was the target DNA. The increase in binding affinity for a partial palindromic PRE present in natural target genes was greater than 10-fold. Coimmunoprecipitation assays using anti-PR or anti-HMG-1 antibodies demonstrated that both PR and HMG-1 are present in the enhanced complex with PRE. HMG-1 protein has two conserved DNA binding domains (A and B), which recognize DNA structure rather than specific sequences. The A- or B-box domain expressed and purified from Escherichia coli independently stimulated the binding of PR to PRE, and the B box was able to functionally substitute for HMG-1 in enhancing PR binding. DNA ligase-mediated ring closure assays demonstrated that both the A and B binding domains mediate DNA flexure. It was also demonstrated in competition binding studies that the intact HMG-1 protein binds to tightly curved covalently closed or relaxed DNA sequences in preference to the same sequence in linear form. The finding that enhanced PRE binding was intrinsic to the HMG-1 box, combined with the demonstration that HMG-1 or its DNA binding boxes can flex DNA, suggests that HMG-1 facilitates the binding of PR by inducing a structural change in the target DNA.

The DNA-bending protein HMG-1 enhances progesterone receptor binding to its target DNA sequences

Steroid hormone receptors are ligand-dependent transcriptional activators that exert their effects by binding as dimers to cis-acting DNA sequences termed hormone response elements. When human progesterone receptor (PR), expressed as a full-length protein in a baculovirus system, was purified to homogeneity, it retained its ability to bind hormonal ligand and to dimerize but exhibited a dramatic loss in DNA binding activity for specific progesterone response elements (PREs). Addition of nuclear extracts from several cellular sources restored DNA binding activity, suggesting that PR requires a ubiquitous accessory protein for efficient interaction with specific DNA sequences. Here we have demonstrated that the high-mobility-group chromatin protein HMG-1, as a highly purified protein, dramatically enhanced binding of purified PR to PREs in gel mobility shift assays. This effect appeared to be highly selective for HMG-1, since a number of other nonspecific proteins failed to enhance PRE binding. Moreover, HMG-1 was effective when added in stoichiometric amounts with receptor, and it was capable of enhancing the DNA binding of both the A and B amino-terminal variants of PR. The presence of HMG-1 measurably increased the binding affinity of purified PR by 10-fold when a synthetic palindromic PRE was the target DNA. The increase in binding affinity for a partial palindromic PRE present in natural target genes was greater than 10-fold. Coimmunoprecipitation assays using anti-PR or anti-HMG-1 antibodies demonstrated that both PR and HMG-1 are present in the enhanced complex with PRE. HMG-1 protein has two conserved DNA binding domains (A and B), which recognize DNA structure rather than specific sequences. The A- or B-box domain expressed and purified from Escherichia coli independently stimulated the binding of PR to PRE, and the B box was able to functionally substitute for HMG-1 in enhancing PR binding. DNA ligase-mediated ring closure assays demonstrated that both the A and B binding domains mediate DNA flexure. It was also demonstrated in competition binding studies that the intact HMG-1 protein binds to tightly curved covalently closed or relaxed DNA sequences in preference to the same sequence in linear form. The finding that enhanced PRE binding was intrinsic to the HMG-1 box, combined with the demonstration that HMG-1 or its DNA binding boxes can flex DNA, suggests that HMG-1 facilitates the binding of PR by inducing a structural change in the target DNA.

The major histocompatibility complex class II promoter-binding protein RFX (NF-X) is a methylated DNA-binding protein

A mammalian protein called RFX or NF-X binds to the X box (or X1 box) in the promoters of a number of major histocompatibility (MHC) class II genes. In this study, RFX was shown to have the same DNA-binding specificity as methylated DNA-binding protein (MDBP), and its own cDNA was found to contain a binding site for MDBP in the leader region. MDBP is a ubiquitous mammalian protein that binds to certain DNA sequences preferentially when they are CpG methylated and to other related sequences, like the X box, irrespective of DNA methylation. MDBP from HeLa and Raji cells formed DNA-protein complexes with X-box oligonucleotides that coelectrophoresed with those containing standard MDBP sites. Furthermore, MDBP and X-box oligonucleotides cross-competed for the formation of these DNA-protein complexes. DNA-protein complexes obtained with MDBP sites displayed the same partial supershifting with an antiserum directed to the N terminus of RFX seen for complexes containing an X-box oligonucleotide. Also, the in vitro-transcribed-translated product of a recombinant RFX cDNA bound specifically to MDBP ligands and displayed the DNA methylation-dependent binding of MDBP. RFX therefore contains MDBP activity and thereby also EF-C, EP, and MIF activities that are indistinguishable from MDBP and that bind to methylation-independent sites in the transcriptional enhancers of polyomavirus and hepatitis B virus and to an intron of c-myc.

The major histocompatibility complex class II promoter-binding protein RFX (NF-X) is a methylated DNA-binding protein

A mammalian protein called RFX or NF-X binds to the X box (or X1 box) in the promoters of a number of major histocompatibility (MHC) class II genes. In this study, RFX was shown to have the same DNA-binding specificity as methylated DNA-binding protein (MDBP), and its own cDNA was found to contain a binding site for MDBP in the leader region. MDBP is a ubiquitous mammalian protein that binds to certain DNA sequences preferentially when they are CpG methylated and to other related sequences, like the X box, irrespective of DNA methylation. MDBP from HeLa and Raji cells formed DNA-protein complexes with X-box oligonucleotides that coelectrophoresed with those containing standard MDBP sites. Furthermore, MDBP and X-box oligonucleotides cross-competed for the formation of these DNA-protein complexes. DNA-protein complexes obtained with MDBP sites displayed the same partial supershifting with an antiserum directed to the N terminus of RFX seen for complexes containing an X-box oligonucleotide. Also, the in vitro-transcribed-translated product of a recombinant RFX cDNA bound specifically to MDBP ligands and displayed the DNA methylation-dependent binding of MDBP. RFX therefore contains MDBP activity and thereby also EF-C, EP, and MIF activities that are indistinguishable from MDBP and that bind to methylation-independent sites in the transcriptional enhancers of polyomavirus and hepatitis B virus and to an intron of c-myc.

The EGD1 product, a yeast homolog of human BTF3, may be involved in GAL4 DNA binding

A variety of techniques, including filter binding, footprinting, and gel retardation, can be used to assay the transcriptional activator GAL4 (Gal4p) through the initial steps of its purification from yeast cells. Following DNA affinity chromatography, Gal4p still bound DNA selectively when assayed by filter binding or footprinting. However, the affinity-purified protein was no longer capable of forming a stable complex with DNA, as assayed by gel retardation. Mixing the purified Gal4p with the flowthrough fraction from the DNA affinity column restored gel retardation complex formation. Gel retardation assays were used to monitor the purification of a heat-stable Gal4p-DNA complex stabilization activity from the affinity column flowthrough. The activity coeluted from the final purification step with polypeptides of 21 and 27 kDa. The yeast gene encoding the 21-kDa protein was cloned on the basis of its N-terminal amino acid sequence. The gene, named EGD1 (enhancer of GAL4 DNA binding), encodes a highly basic protein (21% lysine and arginine) with a predicted molecular mass of 16.5 kDa. The amino acid sequence of the EGD1 product, Egd1p, is highly similar to that of the human protein BTF3 (X. M. Zheng, D. Black, P. Chambon, and J. M. Egly, Nature [London] 344:556-559, 1990). Although an egd1 null mutant was viable and Gal+, induction of the galactose-regulated genes in the egd1 mutant strain was significantly reduced when cells were shifted from glucose to galactose.

The EGD1 product, a yeast homolog of human BTF3, may be involved in GAL4 DNA binding

A variety of techniques, including filter binding, footprinting, and gel retardation, can be used to assay the transcriptional activator GAL4 (Gal4p) through the initial steps of its purification from yeast cells. Following DNA affinity chromatography, Gal4p still bound DNA selectively when assayed by filter binding or footprinting. However, the affinity-purified protein was no longer capable of forming a stable complex with DNA, as assayed by gel retardation. Mixing the purified Gal4p with the flowthrough fraction from the DNA affinity column restored gel retardation complex formation. Gel retardation assays were used to monitor the purification of a heat-stable Gal4p-DNA complex stabilization activity from the affinity column flowthrough. The activity coeluted from the final purification step with polypeptides of 21 and 27 kDa. The yeast gene encoding the 21-kDa protein was cloned on the basis of its N-terminal amino acid sequence. The gene, named EGD1 (enhancer of GAL4 DNA binding), encodes a highly basic protein (21% lysine and arginine) with a predicted molecular mass of 16.5 kDa. The amino acid sequence of the EGD1 product, Egd1p, is highly similar to that of the human protein BTF3 (X. M. Zheng, D. Black, P. Chambon, and J. M. Egly, Nature [London] 344:556-559, 1990). Although an egd1 null mutant was viable and Gal+, induction of the galactose-regulated genes in the egd1 mutant strain was significantly reduced when cells were shifted from glucose to galactose.