SPOC: a widely distributed domain associated with cancer, apoptosis and transcription.
BACKGROUND
The Split ends (Spen) family are large proteins characterised by N-terminal RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a conserved SPOC (Spen paralog and ortholog C-terminal) domain. The aim of this study is to characterize the family at the sequence level.


RESULTS
We describe undetected members of the Spen family in other lineages (Plasmodium and Plants) and localise SPOC in a new domain context, in a family that is common to all eukaryotes using profile-based sequence searches and structural prediction methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The widely distributed DIO (Death inducer-obliterator) family is related to cancer and apoptosis and offers new clues about SPOC domain functionality.
Sánchez-Pulido
Luis
L
Protein Design Group, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain. sanchez@cnb.uam.es
Rojas
Ana M
AM
van Wely
Karel H
KH
Martinez-A
Carlos
C
Valencia
Alfonso
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle; D029867:Xenopus Proteins