Selective dimerization of a C2H2 zinc finger subfamily

The C2H2 zinc finger is the most prevalent protein motif in the mammalian proteome. Two C2H2 fingers in Ikaros are dedicated to homotypic interactions between family members. We show here that these fingers comprise a bona fide dimerization domain. Dimerization is highly selective, however, as homologous domains from the TRPS-1 and Drosophila Hunchback proteins support homodimerization, but not heterodimerization with Ikaros. Ikaros-Hunchback selectivity is determined by 11 residues concentrated within the alpha-helical regions typically involved in base recognition. Preferential homodimerization of one chimeric protein predicts a parallel dimer interface and establishes the feasibility of creating novel dimer specificities. These results demonstrate that the C2H2 motif provides a versatile platform for both sequence-specific protein-nucleic acid interactions and highly specific dimerization.     

Specific RNA binding by a single C2H2 zinc finger

Zinc finger proteins with high affinity for human immunodeficiency virus Rev responsive element stem loop IIB (RRE-IIB) were previously isolated from a phage display zinc finger library. Zinc fingers from one of these proteins, RR1, were expressed individually and assayed for RRE-IIB affinity. The C-terminal zinc finger retained much of the binding affinity of the two-finger parent and was disrupted by mutations predicted to narrow the RRE-IIB major groove and which disrupt Rev binding. In contrast, the N-terminal zinc finger has a calculated affinity at least 1000-fold lower. Despite the high affinity and specificity of RR1 for RRE-IIB, binding affinity for a 234-nucleotide human immunodeficiency virus Rev responsive element (RRE234) was significantly lower. Therefore, zinc finger proteins that bind specifically to RRE234 were constructed using an in vitro selection and recombination approach. These zinc fingers bound RRE234 with subnanomolar dissociation constants and bound the isolated RRE-IIB stem loop with an affinity 2 orders of magnitude lower but similar to the affinity of an arginine-rich peptide derived from Rev. These data show that single C2H2 zinc fingers can bind RNA specifically and suggest that their binding to stem loop IIB is similar to that of Rev peptide. However, binding to RRE234 is either different from stem loop IIB binding or the tertiary structure of stem loop IIB is changed within the Rev responsive element.     

Expression analysis of an Arabidopsis C2H2 zinc finger protein gene

C₂H₂ zinc finger protein genes encode nucleic acid-binding proteins involved in the regulation of gene activity. AtZFP1 (Arabidopsis thaliana zinc finger protein 1) is one member of a small family of C₂H₂ zinc finger-encoding sequences previously characterized from Arabidopsis. The genomic sequence corresponding to the AtZFP1 cDNA has been determined. Molecular analysis demonstrates that AtZFP1 is a unique, intronless gene which encodes a 1100 nucleotides mRNA highly expressed in roots and stems. A construct in which 2.5 kb of AtZFP1 upstream sequences is linked to the -glucuronidase gene was introduced into Arabidopsis by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of roots. Histochemical analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis carrying the AtZFP1 promotor:-glucuronidase fusion shows good correlation with RNA blot hybridization analysis. This transgenic line will be a useful tool for analyzing the regulation of AtZFP1 to further our understanding of its function.     

The histone H4 acetyltransferase MOF uses a C2HC zinc finger for substrate recognition

Site-specific acetylation of histone H4 by MOF is central to establishing the hyperactive male X chromosome in Drosophila. MOF belongs to the MYST family of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) characterized by an unusual C₂HC-type zinc finger close to their HAT domains. The function of these rare zinc fingers is unknown. We found that this domain is essential for HAT activity, in addition to the established catalytic domain. MOF uses its zinc finger to contact the globular part of the nucleosome as well as the histone H4 N-terminal tail substrate. Point mutations that leave the zinc-finger structure intact nevertheless abolish its interaction with the nucleosome. Our data document a novel role of the C₂HC-type finger in nucleosome binding and HAT activity.     

Isolation of novel expression sequences of C2H2 type zinc finger protein gene from human brain tissue according to the conservation of zinc finger motif]

By low stringency PCR amplification of genomic DNA using the primers designed based on the conservation of zinc finger motif, we got 8 gradient eletrophoretic bands. After recovery of the second and third bands, the DNA fragments in them were cloned and sequenced. Compared to the GenBank database, among these 60 segments containing zinc finger motif, 23 segments were novel zinc finger genes' genomic segments. Then the human brain tissue cDNA library was screened, using these segments as probes, and 44 positive clones were obtained. Rescreening 28 of them, we got 20 rescreened clones. All of them were sequenced and sent to the GenBank DNA database for sequence analysis, the results showed that 16 were novel C2H2 type zinc finger protein cDNA segments. The cDNA segments encoding the novel C2H2 type zinc finger proteins provide the basic materials for cloning of full length cDNA of valuable novel zinc finger protein genes.     

水稻C2H2型锌指蛋白基因RZF71的克隆与表达分析

利用生物信息学和RT-PCR方法从水稻幼苗组织中分离了1个新的C2H2型锌指蛋白基因RZF71, 该基因编码一条250个氨基酸残基的多肽, 含有两个典型的C2H2型锌指结构。半定量RT-PCR分析表明: RZF71在根、茎、叶和幼穗中呈组成性表达, 在根中的表达丰度略高; 在高盐和PEG6000胁迫的水稻幼苗组织中, RZF71的表达显著增强, 但低温和ABA处理对该基因的表达量影响不大。农杆菌介导的洋葱表皮细胞GFP瞬时表达实验表明: RZF71定位于细胞核内。讨论了RZF71可能作为一个转录调控因子在水稻耐高盐和渗透胁迫中的作用。     

Conservation,diversification and expansion of C2H2 zinc finger proteins in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome

Background  

The classical C2H2 zinc finger domain is involved in a wide range of functions and can bind to DNA, RNA and proteins. The comparison of zinc finger proteins in several eukaryotes has shown that there is a lot of lineage specific diversification and expansion. Although the number of characterized plant proteins that carry the classical C2H2 zinc finger motifs is growing, a systematic classification and analysis of a plant genome zinc finger gene set is lacking.