Identifying Protein-Binding Sites in the Enhancer Region of the Col11A2 Gene

Authors

Trevor Ellison, Brigham Young University
Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater, Brigham Young University

Keywords

protein-binding sites, Col11a2, chondrocytes, cartilage cells

College

Life Sciences

Department

Physiology and Developmental Biology

Abstract

An enhancer is a DNA sequence that regulates a gene’s expression. It is the binding of proteins to a gene’s enhancer region (at its protein-binding sites) that regulates that gene’s expression in the cell. The Col11a2 gene is activated almost solely in chondrocytes (cartilage cells) (Lui et al., 1995) through this same type of protein binding. The Col11a2 gene is responsible, in part, for the formation of type XI collagen. Mutations in this gene have been shown to cause abnormalities ranging from skeletal deformities to hearing loss.

Recommended Citation

Ellison, Trevor and Bridgewater, Dr. Laura C. (2014) "Identifying Protein-Binding Sites in the Enhancer Region of the Col11A2 Gene," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 910.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/910