Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
AP-4, transcriptional activator, Col11a2, chondrocyte-specific enhancer elements
College
Life Sciences
Department
Physiology and Developmental Biology
Abstract
My purpose is to explore activator protein 4’s (AP-4) role in the expression of the Col11a2 gene. My hypothesis is that AP-4 will bind to the Col11a2 enhancer elements and increase activity of that gene. AP-4 is a ubiquitous transcription factor. Transcription factors are proteins that help regulate cell differentiation and proliferation by binding to enhancer sites to promote or inhibit gene expression. Previous work has shown that the mouse Col11a2 gene contains at least three enhancer sites namely; ABC, DE, and FG [1,2]. Each sequence of the enhancer sites was put through two computer databases of known transcription factors in order to identify possible candidates that could bind to the enhancer elements. AP-4 was shown to have a range of 75%- 89% probability of binding to the enhancer regions [3]. Hence, my research will determine if AP-4 binds to the aforementioned enhancer sites.
Recommended Citation
Jackson, Todd Lincoln and Bridgewater, Dr. Laura
(2014)
"Examination of AP-4 as a Transcriptional Activator of the Col11a2 Chondrocyte-specific Enhancer Elements,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014:
Iss.
1, Article 908.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/908