General Information

Organization of the biological protein NKX2.5. The structures analyzed only represent the homeodomain region.

The transcription factor, NKX2.5 is one of many proteins classified as a homeodomain, and functions to regulate structural development in eukaryotes. These proteins share a characteristic evolutionarily conserved fold containing . ^[1]. DNA-binding is mediated through the insertion of the C-terminal side (alpha-3) into the major groove, allowing for base-reside interactions. This allows homeodomains to locate and bind specific DNA sequences, leading to transcriptional activation or repression ^[2]. The homeodomain of NKX2.5 is flanked by both a N and C-terminal regulatory domain. This puts the biological protein at 324 residues with the homeodomain consisting of residues 138-197 ^[3] Research into the structure and function of NKX2.5 has mainly been focused on the DNA-binding homeodomain, as mutations in this region have been linked to specific diseases ^[4]. This page will focus on the specific interactions of the homeodomain of NKX2.5 with DNA, and how these interactions relate to one of the transcription factor's primary function - heart development.

Clinical Relevance

The sinus venosus (SV), the sinoatrial ring (SAR), the primitive atrium (PA), atrioventricular ring (AVR), primitive left ventricle (PLV), primary ring (PR), primitive right ventricle (PRV), ventriculoarterial ring (VAR), and the aortic sac (AS) ^[5].

In the case of NKX2.5, the protein works in conjunction with multiple other transcription factors during cardiogenesis ^[6],^[7]. Recently, research has been focused on NKX2.5 as mutations in the DNA binding residues, and structural support residues of the protein have been linked to congenital heart disease. Specifically, NKX2.5 mutations have been linked to etiologies involving both atrial and septal defects, deficient atrioventricular node conduction, and more complex mutations such as Tetralogy of Fallot and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome ^[8],^[4],^[9]. These phenotypes are speculated to arise as a result of decreased DNA-binding of NKX2.5 during cardiogenesis. Thi ^[10]. Specifically, issues take root during cardiac loop formation, which takes place approximately 24 days after embryogenesis. At this time, the single vessel present in the embryo loops back upon itself, allowing the vessel to come in contact with itself. This leads to the formation of a four-chambered, primitive heart with the great vessels (shown in the figure from Gittenberger-de Groot et. al)^[5]. Throughout this point in development, NKX2.5 along with other transcription factors are essential in facilitating initial loop formation. Therefore, mutations that affect NKX2.5 function have been tied to the defects mentioned above ^[11]. Additionally, studies have shown that NKX2.5 continues to function after development by maintaining conductivity through the heart's natural pace-maker system. Although the process by which this occurs is slightly less well known, it does suggest NKX2.5 is important throughout life ^[12]. Moreover, NKX2.5 continues to function as a transcription factor for other cardiac-related peptides, for example atrial natriuretic factors ^[13].

Structural highlights

Protein / DNA Interactions

DNA-binding is mediated by residues of probing into the major groove. In the structure presented, NKX2.5 is binding to a known target: the ANF-242 sequence downstream of the atrial natriuretic factor peptide promoter ^[4]. The ANF-242 site contains two NK family binding motifs, , separated by a five nucelotide gap ^[14]. NKX2.5 interacts to this motif with residues positioned on alpha helix 3. Thre residues, interact with DNA backbone at the NK binding motif. Interactions to bases in the major groove is mediated by two residues: . In addition to these two major grove interactions, there are three additional reidues that interact with bases in the NK motif. These bases are . These residues are of particular importance as mutations in this region has been directly linked to pathologies discussed above ^[4],^[15].

Protein / Protein

The global structure of NKX2.5 is maintained by both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions between the three alpha-helices. This is clear when observing the structure of NKX2.5 where . Besides these tertiary interactions present in NKX2.5, the protein is known to associate with other transcription factors and regulatory proteins. For example, GATA factors, and the Hand1 transcription factor (both of which are important in cardiogenesis) are known to interact with NKX2.5 ^[16],^[17]. Unfortunately, structures are not available for these complexes. Structures have been elucidated for the interaction of NKX2.5 with the transcription factor TBX5 (T-box5)^[18]