Contents

List of Figures

CHAPTER 1 Leucine Zippers and the Oncoproteins c-Jun and c-Fos

1.1 Prelude

• 1.1.1 Differential gene expression
• 1.1.2 Molecular decision making and disease
• 1.1.3 Transcription in eukaryotes
• 1.1.4 Regulation of transcription; enhancers and transcription factors

1.2 c-Jun and c-Fos

• 1.2.1 Activator protein-1
• 1.2.2 The oncogenes c-jun and c-fos
• 1.2.3 The nuclear oncoproteins c-Jun and c-Fos

1.3 Leucine Zippers

• 1.3.1 The leucine zipper motif
• 1.3.2 The orientation of leucine zippers
• 1.3.3 Coiled-coils
• 1.3.4 The role of the leucine zipper in dimerisation

1.4 Leucine Zippers and DNA binding

• 1.4.1 Structural motifs of DNA-binding proteins
• 1.4.2 The basic domain
• 1.4.3 The scissors-grip model and the induced helical fork model
• 1.4.4 The flexible hinge model
• 1.4.5 The bZIP domain of GCN4
• 1.4.6 Basic domain helix-turn-helix leucine zipper

1.5 Dimerisation

• 1.5.1 The advantage of dimerisation
• 1.5.2 Homo- and heterodimerisation
• 1.5.3 The function of the leucine zipper in dimerisation

1.6 Objectives