title: Conservation of the three-dimensional structure in non-homologous or unrelated proteins.
abstract: In this review, we examine examples of conservation of protein structural motifs in unrelated or non-homologous proteins. For this, we have selected three DNA-binding motifs: the histone fold, the helix-turn-helix motif, and the zinc finger, as well as the globin-like fold. We show that indeed similar structures exist in unrelated proteins, strengthening the concept that three-dimensional conservation might be more important than the primary amino acid sequence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH 45469-2320, USA.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sousounis
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Haney
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Bharath
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sunchu
authors.forename: Panagiotis A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tsonis
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019077:Helix-Turn-Helix Motifs; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017510:Protein Folding; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006657:Histones