Protein network

This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 677, an undergraduate course at UW-Madison.

   Above is a network image of proteins known to interact with FOXP2 obtained from the database STRING. Of notable interest are NFATC2, EN2, and CTBP1. NFATC2, nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic calcineurin-dependent 2, is a member of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) family. Upon T-cell receptor stimulation, the protein forms a complex, the NFAT transcription complex, with other NFAT proteins. This complex plays a role in inducing transcription during immune response (3). Furthermore, NFATC2 is believed to play a role in Down's syndrome (4), suggesting a connection between the development of verbal dyspraxia and Down's syndrome.
   EN2, engrailed-2, is a homeobox-containing gene, which are thought to play an important role in controlling development. Proper regulation of EN2 is essential for the development of midbrain and cerebellum in mice (1). These results are consistent with what is known about FOXP2, as it is required for proper development of the brain in mice (5).
   CTBP1, a transcriptional repressor, interacts with FOXP2 to repress transcription, which is expected given what is known about the ability of FOXP2 to act as an activator and a repressor (2).
   As shown above, FOXP2 interacts with two other forkhead box proteins, FOXP1 and FOXP4. Such findings are expected, as members of the forkhead box proteins are involved in regulation of gene expression during development.

References

1. Homebox Genes Database (1994-2000) Engraied-2 Retrieved on April 26, 2009 from http://www.evol.nw.ru/labs/lab38/spirov/hox_pro/hox-pro00.html.
2. NCBI (February 4, 2009) Entrez Gene: CTBP1 C-terminal binding protein 1 [Homo sapiens] Retrieved April 26, 2009 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=1487&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Gene.Gene_ResultsPanel.Gene_RVDocSum
3. NCBI (February 4, 2009) Entrex Gene: NFATC2 nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2 [Homo sapiens] Retrieved April 26, 2009 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=4773&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Gene.Gene_ResultsPanel.Gene_RVDocSum
4. NFATc-Down's Syndrome (2009) Retrieved April 26, 2009 from http://nollgen677s09.weebly.com/index.html
5. Shu W, Cho JY, Jiang Y, Zhang M, Weisz D, Elder GA, Schmeidler J, De Gasperi R, Sosa MA, Rabidou D, Santucci AC, Perl D, Morrisey E, and Buxbaum JD. (2005) Altered ultrasonic vocalization in mice with a disruption in the Foxp2 gene. PNAS 102:9643-9648 PMID: 15983371

Databases

STRING

Andrew Tritt
tritt at wisc dot edu
Last Updated: 04/26/2009
Genetics 677