You are working on a research project involving a noveltranscription factor that regulates gene expression specifically inmuscle cells (called MUSC1). You have already done an experimentwhere you showed that the addition of MUSC1 to muscle cells inculture greatly increased the expression of both actin and myosin(contractile proteins in muscle cells). Answer the followingquestions below:
Is MUSC1 a general or regulatory transcription factor? Explainyour answer.
What two specific components would you expect MUSC1 to have aspart of its protein structure?
Briefly describe the two main ways in which MUSC1 could act tostimulate transcription of actin and myosin
Describe an experiment that you could perform to demonstrate thatMUSC1 binds to the promoter/enhancer region of actin and myosingenes.
A potential nuclear localization signal has been identified withinthe protein sequence of the transcription factor MUSC1. Whatexperiments would you perform to demonstrate that this sequence isboth necessary and sufficient for nuclear localization?
MUSC1’s entry into the nucleus is regulated so that it only goesinto the nucleus to regulate the expression of contractile proteinsat the correct time. Describe one mechanism by which this type ofregulation can occur in the cell.
