Publications [#382304] of Lucia C. Strader

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Papers Published

  1. Delaforge, E; Due, AD; Theisen, FF; Morffy, N; O'Shea, C; Blackledge, M; Strader, LC; Skriver, K; Kragelund, BB, Allovalent scavenging of activation domains in the transcription factor ANAC013 gears transcriptional regulation., Nucleic acids research, vol. 53 no. 4 (February, 2025), pp. gkaf065 [doi] .
    (last updated on 2026/01/19)

    Abstract:
    Transcriptional regulation involves interactions between transcription factors, coregulators, and DNA. Intrinsic disorder is a major player in this regulation, but mechanisms driven by disorder remain elusive. Here, we address molecular communication within the stress-regulating Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factor ANAC013. Through high-throughput screening of ANAC013 for transcriptional activation activity, we identify three activation domains within its C-terminal intrinsically disordered region. Two of these overlap with acidic islands and form dynamic interactions with the DNA-binding domain and are released, not only upon binding of target promoter DNA, but also by nonspecific DNA. We show that independently of DNA binding, the RST (RCD--SRO--TAF4) domain of the negative regulator RCD1 (Radical-induced Cell Death1) scavenges the two acidic activation domains positioned vis-à-vis through allovalent binding, leading to dynamic occupation at enhanced affinity. We propose an allovalency model for transcriptional regulation, where sequentially close activation domains in both DNA-bound and DNA-free states allow for efficient regulation. The model is likely relevant for many transcription factor systems, explaining the functional advantage of carrying sequentially close activation domains.