Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40149012›Full record

ArticleCell communication and signaling : CCS2025

The molecular properties of the bHLH TCF4 protein as an intrinsically disordered hub transcription factor.

Nikola Sozańska, Barbara P Klepka, Anna Niedzwiecka, Lilia Zhukova, Michał Dadlez, Beata Greb-Markiewicz, Andrzej Ożyhar, Aneta Tarczewska

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell communication and signaling : CCS, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nikola SozańskaDepartment of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Wrocław, 50-370, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6635-1768
Barbara P KlepkaLaboratory of Biological Physics, Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Lotnikow 32/46, Warsaw, PL-02668, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4496-8713
Anna NiedzwieckaLaboratory of Biological Physics, Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Aleja Lotnikow 32/46, Warsaw, PL-02668, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5208-0733
Lilia ZhukovaInstitute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8607-2918
Michał DadlezInstitute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8811-5176
Beata Greb-MarkiewiczDepartment of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Wrocław, 50-370, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2831-439X
Andrzej OżyharDepartment of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Wrocław, 50-370, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5874-784X
Aneta TarczewskaDepartment of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Wrocław, 50-370, Poland. aneta.tarczewska@pwr.edu.pl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2209-0919

Funding

National Science Centre of Poland UMO-2016/22/E/NZ1/00656
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTranscription factor 4 (TCF4) is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors that guides proper embryogenesis, particularly neurogenesis, myogenesis, heart development and hematopoiesis. The interaction of TCF4 with DNA is dependent on the presence of a conserved bHLH domain, particularly the presence of a basic (b) motif. Most mutations in the Tcf4 gene are either associated with the development of serious nervous system disorders, such as Pitt-Hopkins syndrome or schizophrenia, or are lethal. Although TCF4 is essential for the proper development and function of the human body, there is a lack of fundamental knowledge about the structure of TCF4 since structural studies were previously limited exclusively to its bHLH.

methodsRecombinant full-length TCF4 was expressed in bacterial cells and purified using chromatographic techniques. To compare the properties of TCF4 in its apo and holo form, we determined the dissociation constant (K

resultsWe demonstrate the molecular characteristics of TCF4, the dimer of which is one of the largest intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) described to date. According to our findings, the structure of TCF4 is extensively disordered. Only the bHLH domain exhibits a stable fold. Strikingly, Ephrussi-box (E-box) binding via the bHLH domain has no significant effect on the disordered nature of TCF4, but it does influence the dynamic of bHLH and stability of the protein.

conclusionsWe suggest that bHLH plays the role of an anchor localizing TCF4 to specific gene sequences. The dual nature of the TCF4 structure and the fact that the intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) represent most of the protein sequence, suggest that TCF4 may act as a hub transcription factor regulating the expression of specific genes through the interaction of IDRs with gene-specific partners.

Indexed as

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix ProteinsIntrinsically Disordered ProteinsTranscription Factor 4DNAHumansProtein BindingBasic Helix-Loop-Helix ProteinsDNAIntrinsically Disordered ProteinsTCF4 protein, humanTranscription Factor 4Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)Ephrussi-box (E-box)Hub proteinsImmunoglobulin transcription factor 2 (ITF2)Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs)Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs)SL3-3 enhancer factor 2 (SEF2)Transcription factor 4 (TCF4)Transcription factors (TFs)

Identifiers

PMID40149012
PMCPMC11948756

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.