Two zinc finger proteins from Mycobacterium smegmatis: DNA binding and activation of transcription

Single zinc finger domain containing proteins are very few in number. Of numerous zinc finger proteins in eukaryotes, only three of them like GAGA, Superman and DNA binding by one finger (Dof) have single zinc finger domain. Although few zinc finger proteins have been described in eubacteria, no protein with single C4 zinc finger has been described in details in anyone of them. In this article, we are describing two novel C‐terminal C4 zinc finger proteins—Msmeg_0118 and Msmeg_3613 from Mycobacterium smegmatis. We have named these proteins as Mszfp1 (Mycobacterial Single Zinc Finger Protein 1) and Mszfp2 (Mycobacterial Single Zinc Finger Protein 2). Both the proteins are expressed constitutively, can bind to DNA and regulate transcription. It appears that Mszfp1 and Mszfp2 may activate transcription by interacting with RNA polymerase.

Two C‐terminal Zn‐finger proteins from Mycobacterium smegmatis are described in this article. They are characterized structurally, and the biochemical functions have been elucidated. Experiments indicated that both bind RNA polymerase and act as transcription activators.

Source: Genes to Cells - June 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Subho Ghosh, Dipankar Chatterji Tags: Original Article Source Type: research