TcZFP1: a CCCH zinc finger protein of Trypanosoma cruzi that binds poly-C oligoribonucleotides in vitro

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2004-06, Vol.319 (1), p.169-177
• Main Authors: Mörking, Patrı́cia A, Dallagiovanna, Bruno M, Foti, Leonardo, Garat, Beatriz, Picchi, Gisele F.A, Umaki, Adriana C.S, Probst, Christian M, Krieger, Marco A, Goldenberg, Samuel, Fragoso, Stenio P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Blotting, Northern; CCCH zinc finger protein; Cloning, Molecular; DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; EMSA; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Kinetics; Luminescent Proteins - chemistry; Metacyclogenesis; Molecular Sequence Data; Oligoribonucleotides - chemistry; Polyribosomes - chemistry; Protein Binding; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protozoan Proteins - chemistry; Protozoan Proteins - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - chemistry; Recombinant Proteins - chemistry; RNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Time Factors; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - metabolism; Zinc Fingers
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.04.162

We have identified two zinc finger proteins of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease in humans. These proteins, named tcZFP1 and tcZFP2, share the unusual zinc finger motif (CCCH) found in a diverse range of RNA-binding proteins involved in various aspects of the control of cell homeostasis and differentiation. We report here the functional expression of a recombinant tcZFP1, and the relative affinity and stability of the specific complexes formed between the protein and synthetic oligoribonucleotides containing C-rich sequences.