Zinc finger proteins: getting a grip on RNA.
C2H2 (Cys-Cys-His-His motif) zinc finger proteins are members of a large superfamily of nucleic-acid-binding proteins in eukaryotes. On the basis of NMR and X-ray structures, we know that DNA sequence recognition involves a short alpha helix bound to the major groove. Exactly how some zinc finger proteins bind to double-stranded RNA has been a complete mystery for over two decades. This has been resolved by the long-awaited crystal structure of part of the TFIIIA-5S RNA complex. A comparison can be made with identical fingers in a TFIIIA-DNA structure. Additionally, the NMR structure of TIS11d bound to an AU-rich element reveals the molecular details of the interaction between CCCH fingers and single-stranded RNA. Together, these results contrast the different ways that zinc finger proteins bind with high specificity to their RNA targets.
Brown
Raymond S
RS
Division of Experimental Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, 4 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA. rbrown7@bidmc.harvard.edu
D001665:Binding Sites; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins