Alternating zinc-finger motifs in the human male-associated protein ZFY

Journal Article · Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Biochemistry; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/bi00476a002· OSTI ID:6292080

Weiss, M A ^[1]; Mason, K A; Keutmann, H T ^[2]; Dahl, C E ^[3]

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1. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (USA) Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (USA)
2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (USA)
3. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (USA)

ZFY, a putative transcription factor encoded by the human Y chromosome, contains a distinctive two-finger repeat: odd-numbered and even-numbered CC/HH metal-binding motifs exhibit systematic alternation in sequence pattern. Such alternation, which is not generally observed in zinc-finger proteins, has also been described in an extensive family of Kruppel-like genes in Xenopus laevis and in the AIDS-associated human DNA-binding protein HIV-EP1. The strict conservation of a two-finger repeat among ZFY-, Kruppel- and HIV-related zinc-finger proteins suggests distinct mechanisms of protein-nucleic acid recognition. To test whether this sequence pattern reflects an underlying alternation in domain structure, the authors have synthesized and characterized single-finger peptides from the human ZFY gene. Remarkably, systematic differences in metal-dependent folding are observed in the circular dichroism spectra of even- and odd-numbered domains. The results suggest the existence of distinct CC/HH finger submotifs, which may play different roles in nucleic acid recognition.

• OSTI ID: 6292080
• Journal Information: Biochemistry; (USA), Vol. 29:24; ISSN 0006-2960
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
HUMAN Y CHROMOSOME
DNA SEQUENCING
PEPTIDES
MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM
TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
MEN
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
CHROMOSOMES
DICHROISM
HETEROCHROMOSOMES
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
NUCLEOPROTEINS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
VERTEBRATES
Y CHROMOSOME
550200* - Biochemistry