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

Journal Article · Tue Jun 19 04:00:00 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), Journal Name: Biochemistry; (USA) Vol. 29:24; ISSN 0006-2960; ISSN BICHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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