ISOFORMS OF 14-3-3-PROTEIN CAN FORM HOMODIMERS AND HETERODIMERS IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO - IMPLICATIONS FOR FUNCTION AS ADAPTER PROTEINS

14-3-3 proteins play a role in many cellular functions: they bind to and regulate several proteins which: are critical for cell proliferation and differentiation. 14-3-3 proteins exist as diners, and in this study we have shown that diverse 14-3-3 proteins can form both homo- and heterodimers in vitro (by cross-linking studies) and in vivo (by coimmunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis); this interaction is mediated solely through the N-terminal domain of the proteins. The composition of 14-3-3 dimers within a cell may play a key part in the role of this family of proteins as modulators or adapters which facilitate the interaction of distinct components of signalling pathways.