title: Self-splicing group I and group II introns encode homologous (putative) DNA endonucleases of a new family.
abstract: A new family of protein domains consisting of 50-80 amino acid residues is described. It is composed of nearly 40 members, including domains encoded by plastid and phage group I introns; mitochondrial, plastid, and bacterial group II introns; eubacterial genomes and plasmids; and phages. The name "EX1HH-HX3H" was coined for both domain and family. It is based on 2 most prominent amino acid sequence motifs, each encompassing a pair of highly conserved histidine residues in a specific arrangement: EX1HH and HX3H. The "His" motifs often alternate with amino- and carboxy-terminal motifs of a new type of Zn-finger-like structure CX2,4CX29-54[CH]X2,3[CH]. The EX1HH-HX3H domain in eubacterial E2-type bacteriocins and in phage RB3 (wild variant of phage T4) product of the nrdB group I intron was reported to be essential for DNA endonuclease activity of these proteins. In other proteins, the EX1HH-HX3H domain is hypothesized to possess DNase activity as well. Presumably, this activity promotes movement (rearrangement) of group I and group II introns encoding the EX1HH-HX3H domain and other gene targets. In the case of Escherichia coli restrictase McrA and possibly several related proteins, it appears to mediate the restriction of alien DNA molecules.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow Region.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gorbalenya
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006639:Histidine; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012326:RNA Splicing; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D006639:Histidine; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D015032:Zinc