title: The HMG-box: a versatile protein domain occurring in a wide variety of DNA-binding proteins.
abstract: The HMG-box domain of approximately 75 amino acid residues was originally identified as the domain that mediates the DNA-binding of chromatin-associated high-mobility group (HMG) proteins of the HMGB type. In the last few years, HMG-box domains have been found in various DNA-binding proteins including transcription factors and subunits of chromatin-remodeling complexes. HMG-box domains mediate either non-sequence-specific (e.g., HMGB-type proteins) or sequence-specific (e.g., transcription factors) DNA binding. Both types of HMG-box domains bind non-B-type DNA structures (bent, kinked and unwound) with high affinity. In addition, HMG-box domains are involved in a variety of protein-protein interactions. Here, we have examined the human and plant genomes for genes encoding HMG-box domains. Compared to plants, human cells contain a larger variety of HMG-box proteins. Whereas in humans transcription factors are the most divergent group of HMG-box proteins, in plants the chromosomal HMGB-type proteins are most variable.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Analysis of Chromosomal Proteins, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Biophysics, Královopolská 135, 612 65, Brno, Czech Republic. stros@ibp.cz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stros
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Launholt
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Grasser
mesh_terms: D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015894:Genome, Human; D018745:Genome, Plant; D024742:HMG-Box Domains; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092070:phyl protein, Drosophila