Zinc fingers as protein recognition motifs: structural basis for the GATA-1/friend of GATA interaction

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jan 18;102(3):583-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0407511102. Epub 2005 Jan 11.

Abstract

GATA-1 and friend of GATA (FOG) are zinc-finger transcription factors that physically interact to play essential roles in erythroid and megakaryocytic development. Several naturally occurring mutations in the GATA-1 gene that alter the FOG-binding domain have been reported. The mutations are associated with familial anemias and thrombocytopenias of differing severity. To elucidate the molecular basis for the GATA-1/FOG interaction, we have determined the three-dimensional structure of a complex comprising the interaction domains of these proteins. The structure reveals how zinc fingers can act as protein recognition motifs. Details of the architecture of the contact domains and their physical properties provide a molecular explanation for how the GATA-1 mutations contribute to distinct but related genetic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors
  • GATA1 Transcription Factor
  • Hematologic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Hematologic Diseases / genetics
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mutation / physiology
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Conformation
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Zinc Fingers*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors
  • GATA1 Transcription Factor
  • GATA1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • ZFPM1 protein, human

Associated data

  • PDB/1Y0J