Structural determinants of specific DNA-recognition by the THAP zinc finger.

ABSTRACT: Human THAP1 is the prototype of a large family of cellular factors sharing an original THAP zinc-finger motif responsible for DNA binding. Human THAP1 regulates endothelial cell proliferation and G1/S cell-cycle progression, through modulation of pRb/E2F cell-cycle target genes including rrm1. Recently, mutations in THAP1 have been found to cause DYT6 primary torsion dystonia, a human neurological disease. We report here the first 3D structure of the complex formed by the DNA-binding domain of THAP1 and its specific DNA target (THABS) found within the rrm1 target gene. The THAP zinc finger uses its double-stranded beta-sheet to fill the DNA major groove and provides a unique combination of contacts from the beta-sheet, the N-terminal tail and surrounding loops toward the five invariant bas

SUBMITTER: Campagne S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2879526 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature