Is zinc finger a protein motif?
A zinc finger is a small protein structural motif that is characterized by the coordination of one or more zinc ions (Zn2+) in order to stabilize the fold. It was originally coined to describe the finger-like appearance of a hypothesized structure from the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) transcription factor IIIA.
Which protein contains a zinc finger domain?
Zinc finger domains are one of the most common structural motifs in eukaryotic cells, which employ the motif in some of their most important proteins (including TFIIIA, CTCF, and ZiF268). These DNA binding proteins contain up to 37 zinc finger domains connected by flexible linker regions.
What do zinc finger proteins do?
Zinc finger proteins are among the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic genomes. Their functions are extraordinarily diverse and include DNA recognition, RNA packaging, transcriptional activation, regulation of apoptosis, protein folding and assembly, and lipid binding.
Is zinc finger a cofactor?
Zinc finger (ZF) proteins are proteins that use zinc as a structural cofactor.
What is meant by zinc finger?
Zinc finger: A finger-shaped fold in a protein that permits it to interact with DNA and RNA. The fold is created by the binding of specific amino acids in the protein to a zinc atom. Zinc-finger proteins regulate the expression of genes as well as nucleic acid recognition, reverse transcription and virus assembly.
How does zinc finger work?
Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are a class of engineered DNA-binding proteins that facilitate targeted editing of the genome by creating double-strand breaks in DNA at user-specified locations.
What do zinc fingers interact with?
Zinc-finger proteins (ZNFs) are one of the most abundant groups of proteins and have a wide range of molecular functions. Given the wide variety of zinc-finger domains, ZNFs are able to interact with DNA, RNA, PAR (poly-ADP-ribose) and other proteins.
How does zinc-finger work?
How does zinc finger nuclease work?
Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) are artificial restriction enzymes generated by fusing a zinc finger DNA-binding domain to a DNA-cleavage domain. Zinc finger domains can be engineered to target specific desired DNA sequences and this enables zinc-finger nucleases to target unique sequences within complex genomes.
What is zinc finger nucleases used for?
How does a zinc atom help stabilize the zinc finger?
The zinc atom is simultaneously bound by the 2 cysteine and the 2 histidine side chains. DNA has a negatively-charged phosphate backbone. Therefore, the positively- charged arginine of the zinc finger can bind to DNA via an electrostatic interaction.
How does zinc finger nucleases work?
