The LIM/double zinc-finger motif functions as a protein dimerization domain

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Oct 25;91(22):10655-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.22.10655.

Abstract

Protein-protein interactions resulting in dimerization and heterodimerization are of central importance in the control of gene expression and cell function. Proteins that share the 52-residue LIM/double zinc-finger domain are involved in a wide range of developmental and cellular controls. Some of these functions have been hypothesized to involve protein dimerization. In the present report we demonstrate, using both in vitro and cell-based studies, that a representative LIM protein, human cysteine-rich protein (hCRP), can efficiently homodimerize. The dimerization ability of hCRP is mapped to the LIM domains, can be transferred to an unrelated protein by fusion of a single minimal LIM/double zinc-finger segment, occurs in the absence as well as the presence of DNA, and appears to depend on coordination of two zinc atoms in the finger doublet. These observations support a specific role for protein dimerization in the function of proteins containing the LIM/double zinc-finger domain and expand the general spectrum of potential interactions mediated by zinc-finger motifs.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Glutathione Transferase / biosynthesis
  • Humans
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Proteins*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • TATA Box
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Zinc Fingers / physiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • cysteine-rich protein, mammalian
  • Glutathione Transferase