THE DNA-BINDING DEFECT OBSERVED IN MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS-II REGULATORY MUTANTS CONCERNS ONLY ONE MEMBER OF A FAMILY OF COMPLEXES BINDING TO THE X-BOXES OF CLASS-II PROMOTERS

The X box of major histocompatibility complex class 11 promoters is essential for proper expression of class II genes. Here we show that two distinct protein-DNA complexes (A and B), which exhibit similar binding characteristics and identical contact points on the X box, can be formed. This suggests the existence of a family of related X box-binding factors. Complex B (and not complex A) is specifically affected in primary combined immunodeficiency, a congenital defect in class II gene regulation. RFX1, the first X box-binding protein cloned, encodes a functionally relevant factor present in complex A and not in complex B as originally suspected. This report also illustrates the need for caution in correlating specific cloned proteins with nuclear factors identified by DNA-binding assays, particularly when dealing with families of related proteins.