title: The THAP domain: a novel protein motif with similarity to the DNA-binding domain of P element transposase.
abstract: We have identified a novel evolutionarily conserved protein motif - designated the THAP domain - that defines a new family of cellular factors. We have found that the THAP domain presents striking similarities with the site-specific DNA-binding domain (DBD) of Drosophila P element transposase, including a similar size, N-terminal location, and conservation of the residues that define the THAP motif, such as the C2CH signature (Cys-Xaa(2-4)-Cys-Xaa(35-50)-Cys-Xaa(2)-His). Our results suggest that the THAP domain is a novel example of a DBD that is shared between cellular proteins and transposases from mobile genomic parasites.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Vasculaire, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, CNRS UMR 5089, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roussigne
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kossida
authors.forename: Anne-Claire
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lavigne
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clouaire
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ecochard
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glories
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amalric
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Girard
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019895:Transposases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019895:Transposases