What is zinc finger domain?
Zinc finger (Znf) domains are relatively small protein motifs that contain multiple finger-like protrusions that make tandem contacts with their target molecule. Some of these domains bind zinc, but many do not, instead binding other metals such as iron, or no metal at all.
What is the function of zinc finger?
Zinc finger proteins are among the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic genomes. Their functions are extraordinarily diverse and include DNA recognition, RNA packaging, transcriptional activation, regulation of apoptosis, protein folding and assembly, and lipid binding.
Is a zinc finger domain tertiary structure?
Zinc fingers (ZFs) are conventionally defined as short protein domains whose tertiary structure (or fold) is primarily stabilized by a structural zinc ion that serves as a surrogate for a strong hydrophobic core1,2,3,4.
How are zinc fingers specific to DNA?
Zinc fingers generally occur in units of 3–15 tandem repeats, where the number of DNA-binding motifs directly affects the sequence specificity of the interaction. The length of the linker region between zinc fingers determines the number and spacing of the recognition helices docked in the DNA major groove.
How do zinc fingers regulate transcription?
The zinc-finger domain is one of the most frequently utilized DNA-binding motif found in eukaryotic transcriptional factors. The binding of a zinc-finger domain to its target site juxtaposes three base pairs on DNA to a few amino acids in the α-helix structure.
How many DNA bases does each Zn finger domain bind?
three base pairs
Zinc finger protein (ZFP) is a common DNA binding domain found in many transcription factors. It consists of ∼30 amino acids that may recognize three base pairs of DNA.
Are zinc finger transcription factors?
Zinc finger proteins are the largest transcription factor family in human genome. The diverse combinations and functions of zinc finger motifs make zinc finger proteins versatile in biological processes, including development, differentiation, metabolism and autophagy.
What is the function of zinc finger motif?
Zinc Finger Motifs Note: The zinc ion, found in 8% of all human proteins, plays an important role in the organization of their three-dimensional structure. 6. Zinc Finger Motif These are the most abundant proteins in the eukaryotes genomes.
What is a zinc finger nuclease?
Zinc finger nucleases: custom-designed molecular scissors for genome engineering of plant and mammalian cells. Nucleic Acids Research. Rudin et al., 2005.
What is the role of zinc?
INTRODUCTION • Zinc, a divalent cation, Atomic no-30 • Essential micro-nutrient •Role of zinc- Over 300 metalloenzymes and over 2000 transcription for regulation of lipid, protein and nucleic acid metabolism, and gene transcription. 3.
What is the free ion activity of zinc?
The free zinc ion in solution is highly toxic to plants, invertebrates, and even vertebrate fish. The Free Ion Activity Model (FIAM) is well- established in the literature, and shows that just micromolar amounts of the free ion kills some organisms. A recent example showed 6 micromolar killing 93% of all daphnia in water.