title: Identification of a family of DNA-binding proteins with homology to RNA splicing factors.
abstract: We describe a unique family of human proteins that are capable of binding to the cAMP regulatory element (CRE) and that are homologous to RNA splicing proteins. A human cDNA was isolated that encodes a protein with a distinctive combination of modular domain structures: 2 leucine-zipper-like domains, a DNA-binding zinc-finger-like domain, an RNA-binding zinc-finger-like domain, and 2 coiled-coil protein-protein interaction domains. It also has a serine-arginine-rich domain, commonly found in proteins involved in RNA splicing. The protein was discovered using the CRE as bait in a yeast 1-hybrid assay. It was then shown to bind specifically to the CRE in vitro using gel shift assays. We have named the protein CRE-associated protein (CREAP). We show that it is widely expressed in human tissues but is highly expressed in several fetal tissues and in several regions of the adult brain. CREAP is closely related to 2 human proteins of unknown function. CREAP shows significant homology with a small nuclear ribonucleoprotein of yeast, Luc7p, involved in 5' splice site recognition. The 3 human CREAP proteins form a unique family with the potential to act as transcription factors that link to RNA processing.
authors.affiliation: Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Kristy L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Shipman
authors.forename: Phillip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D016350:Leucine Zippers / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050436:Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000242:Cyclic AMP