Structural and histone binding ability characterizations of human PWWP domains.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The PWWP domain was first identified as a structural motif of 100-130 amino acids in the WHSC1 protein and predicted to be a protein-protein interaction domain. It belongs to the Tudor domain 'Royal Family', which consists of Tudor, chromodomain, MBT and PWWP domains. While Tudor, chromodomain and MBT domains have long been known to bind methylated histones, PWWP was shown to exhibit histone binding ability only until recently.

Methodology/principal findings

The PWWP domain has been shown to be a DNA binding domain, but sequence analysis and previous structural studies show that the PWWP domain exhibits significant similarity to other 'Royal Family' members, implying that the PWWP domain has the potential to bind histones. In order to further explore the function

SUBMITTER: Wu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3119473 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature