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Team:Harvard/Project/Zinc Finger Background
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=What are Zinc Finger Proteins (ZFPs)?= | =What are Zinc Finger Proteins (ZFPs)?= | ||
==Function== | ==Function== | ||
| - | ZFPs are found commonly in nature as a class of special transcription factors that bind to DNA, thus regulating gene expression. | + | ZFPs are found commonly in nature as a class of special transcription factors that bind to DNA, thus regulating gene expression. Zinc finger function was first studied using zinc finger protein Zif268, perhaps the most studied ZF. |
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==Structure== | ==Structure== | ||
Revision as of 16:54, 25 September 2011
Overview | Bioinformatics | Chip-Based Library | Plasmid Construction | Selection Strain Engineering | Protocols
What are Zinc Finger Proteins (ZFPs)?
Function
ZFPs are found commonly in nature as a class of special transcription factors that bind to DNA, thus regulating gene expression. Zinc finger function was first studied using zinc finger protein Zif268, perhaps the most studied ZF.
Structure
ZFPs consist of smaller subunits called "fingers" which each contain a zinc finger binding helix that binds to unique DNA sequences. These fingers are linear and linked together by the "zinc finger backbone", a series of approximately 21 amino acids.
- Cis2His2 ZFPs have three main structural components:
- Zinc finger binding helix
- Linker region
- Zinc ion that is coordinated by two cysteine residues and two histidine residues.
