Interaction cloning: identification of a helix-loop-helix zipper protein that interacts with c-Fos.

A facile method for isolating genes that encode interacting proteins has been developed with a polypeptide probe that contains an amino-terminal extension with recognition sites for a monoclonal antibody, a specific endopeptidase, and a site-specific protein kinase. This probe, containing the basic region-leucine zipper dimerization motif of c-Fos, was used to screen a complementary DNA library. A complementary DNA that encoded a member of the basic-helix-loop-helix-zipper (bHLH-Zip) family of proteins was isolated. The complementary DNA-encoded polypeptide FIP (Fos interacting protein) bound to oligonucleotide probes that contained DNA binding motifs for other HLH proteins. When cotransfected with c-Fos, FIP stimulated transcription of an AP-1-responsive promoter.