The Drosophila zfh-1 and zfh-2 genes encode novel proteins containing both zinc-finger and homeodomain motifs

Mech Dev. 1991 Jun;34(2-3):113-22. doi: 10.1016/0925-4773(91)90048-b.

Abstract

Two of the most common DNA-binding motifs found in eukaryotic transcriptional regulatory proteins are the homeodomain and the C2-H2 zinc finger. In Drosophila, homeodomain and zinc-finger proteins have been implicated in a wide variety of developmental processes. Until now, no proteins have been described in which both these DNA-binding motifs are present. We report here the isolation of genes encoding two such Drosophila proteins from a cDNA expression library. The product of the zfh-1 gene (zinc-finger homeodomain protein 1) contains one homeodomain and nine C2-H2 zinc fingers. The product of the zfh-2 gene possesses three homeodomains and sixteen C2-H2 zinc fingers. For zfh-1, antisera raised against nonoverlapping regions of the gene product all recognize a 145 kDa protein on protein immunoblots, suggesting that the different DNA-binding motifs are actually all present in the mature gene product. The novel arrangement of interspersed homeodomain and zinc-finger motifs in the primary sequences of the zfh-1 and zfh-2 gene products may signify an unusual mechanism of transcriptional regulation by these proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / genetics
  • Drosophila / genetics*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Homeobox / genetics*
  • Genes, Homeobox / immunology
  • Genes, Regulator / genetics*
  • Immune Sera / immunology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic / immunology
  • Zinc Fingers / genetics*
  • Zinc Fingers / immunology

Substances

  • Immune Sera
  • DNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/M63449
  • GENBANK/M63450
  • GENBANK/S64464
  • GENBANK/S64467
  • GENBANK/S78943
  • GENBANK/S78944
  • GENBANK/S78945
  • GENBANK/S78946
  • GENBANK/S78947
  • GENBANK/S78948
  • GENBANK/S78949
  • GENBANK/S78950