STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS OF CYS3HIS ZINC DOMAINS

描述：（改编自申请人的摘要） 已经发现参与基因表达调节的蛋白质 含有形成小结构域的氨基酸短链 围绕着结合的锌离子。 这些蛋白质中的许多通过以下途径发挥功能： 与核酸的相互作用。 两个当前感兴趣的类 是CCHC-盒结构域蛋白和CCCH结构域蛋白。 CCHC盒子 结构域首先被确定为逆转录病毒蛋白质的一个组成部分 这个域似乎在识别单个 链dna 这些相互作用的结构模型已经开发出来 将通过研究一种蛋白质的片段来测试， 来自锥虫的特异性单链DNA序列。 CCCH域 在蛋白质Nup 475中被识别，其水平响应于 胰岛素和其他生长因子。 CCCH域的功能不是 已经建立，但最近的结果表明，它们可能切割特定的 RNA结构 这一提议反映了一种协作努力， 使用溶液状态NMR结构表征这两种结构基序 以及功能和结合研究。

DESCRIPTION: (adapted from applicant's abstract) A variety of classes of proteins involved in the regulation of gene expression have been found to contain short stretches of amino acids that form small structural domains organized around bound zinc ions. Many of these proteins function via interactions with nucleic acids. Two classes that are of current interest are the CCHC-box domain proteins and the CCCH domain proteins. The CCHC-box domain was first identified as a component of proteins from retroviruses where this domain appears to play a key role in the recognition of single stranded DNA. A structural model of these interactions has been developed that will be tested via studies of fragments of a protein that binds to specific single stranded DNA sequences from trypanosomes. The CCCH domain was recognized in the protein Nup475 whose level increases in response to insulin and other growth factors. The functions of CCCH domains are not well established, but recent results suggest that they may cleave specific RNA structures. This proposal reflects a collaborative effort to characterize these two structural motifs using solution state NMR structures as well as functional and binding studies.