Isoforms of 14-3-3 protein can form homo- 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 dimers, 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.