Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
1508079 
Journal Article 
Benzoate X receptor zinc-finger gene switches for drug-inducible regulation of transcription 
Schwimmer, LJ; Gonzalez, B; Barbas, CF 
2012 
1 
Gene Therapy
ISSN: 0969-7128
EISSN: 1476-5462 
19 
4 
458-462 
English 
21796215 
WOS:000302769800014 
Targeted zinc-finger (ZF) DNA-binding domains in conjunction with nuclear receptor ligand-binding domains (LBDs) produce chemically inducible gene switches that have applications in gene therapy and proteomic and genomic research. The benzoate X receptor-β (BXRβ) LBD was used to construct homodimer and single-chain ZF transcription factors (ZF(TF)s). These ZF(TF)s specifically regulated the transcription of target genes in response to two ligands, ethyl-4-hydroxybenzoate and propyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, in a dose-dependent manner. The ZF(TF)s also regulated the expression of endogenous intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in response to either ligand. The advantage of BXRβ-based ZF(TF)s is that the ligands are inexpensive and easily synthetically modified, making the system a base for creation of orthogonal ligand-receptor pairs and expanding the gene-switch toolbox. 
gene switch; zinc finger; transcription factor; benzoate X receptor; nuclear receptor