EuRBPDB

Pfam

This zinc-finger like domain is distributed throughout the eukaryotic kingdom in NIPA (Nuclear interacting partner of ALK) proteins. NIPA is implicate to perform some sort of antiapoptotic role in nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mediated signaling events [1]. The domain is often repeated, with the second domain usually containing a large insert (approximately 90 residues) after the first three cysteine residues. The Schizosaccharomyces pombe the protein containing this domain (O94506) is involved in mRNA export from the nucleus [2].

InterPro

Zinc finger (Znf) domains are relatively small protein motifs which contain multiple finger-like protrusions that make tandem contacts with their target molecule. Some of these domains bind zinc, but many do not; instead binding other metals such as iron, or no metal at all. For example, some family members form salt bridges to stabilise the finger-like folds. They were first identified as a DNA-binding motif in transcription factor TFIIIA from Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog), however they are now recognised to bind DNA, RNA, protein and/or lipid substrates [PUBMED:10529348, PUBMED:15963892, PUBMED:15718139, PUBMED:17210253, PUBMED:12665246]. Their binding properties depend on the amino acid sequence of the finger domains and of the linker between fingers, as well as on the higher-order structures and the number of fingers. Znf domains are often found in clusters, where fingers can have different binding specificities. There are many superfamilies of Znf motifs, varying in both sequence and structure. They display considerable versatility in binding modes, even between members of the same class (e.g. some bind DNA, others protein), suggesting that Znf motifs are stable scaffolds that have evolved specialised functions. For example, Znf-containing proteins function in gene transcription, translation, mRNA trafficking, cytoskeleton organisation, epithelial development, cell adhesion, protein folding, chromatin remodelling and zinc sensing, to name but a few [PUBMED:11179890]. Zinc-binding motifs are stable structures, and they rarely undergo conformational changes upon binding their target.

1. Ouyang T, Bai RY, Bassermann F, von Klitzing C, Klumpen S, Miething C, Morris SW, Peschel C, Duyster J; , J Biol Chem 2003;278:30028-30036.: Identification and characterization of a nuclear interacting partner of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NIPA). PUBMED:12748172 EPMC:12748172 .

2. Yoon JH; , J Microbiol 2004;42:32-36.: Schizosaccharomyces pombe rsm1 genetically interacts with spmex67, which is involved in mRNA export. PUBMED:15357289 EPMC:15357289.