POU Found in Pit-Oct-Unc transcription factors
SMART ACC:	SM000352
Description:	-
InterPro ACC:	IPR000327
InterPro abstract:	This entry represents the POU-specific subunit of the POU domain.The POU domain is a bipartite domain composed of two subunits separated by a non-conserved region of 15-55 aa. The N-terminal subunit is known as the POU-specific (POUs) domain (this entry), while the C-terminal subunit is a homeobox domain ( IPR001356 … expand This entry represents the POU-specific subunit of the POU domain.The POU domain is a bipartite domain composed of two subunits separated by a non-conserved region of 15-55 aa. The N-terminal subunit is known as the POU-specific (POUs) domain (this entry), while the C-terminal subunit is a homeobox domain ( IPR001356 ). Both subdomains contain the structural motif 'helix-turn-helix', which directly associates with the two components of bipartite DNA binding sites, and both are required for high affinity sequence-specific DNA-binding. 3D structures of complexes including both POU subdomains bound to DNA are available. The domain may also be involved in protein-protein interactions [ PUBMED:1628619 ]. The subdomains are connected by a flexible linker [ PUBMED:11183772 PUBMED:8156594 PUBMED:9009203 ]. Despite of the lack of sequence homology, the tridimensional structure of POUs is similar to 3D structure of bacteriophage lambda repressor and other members of HTH_3 family [ PUBMED:11183772 PUBMED:8156594 ]. POU proteins are eukaryotic transcription factors containing a bipartite DNA binding domain referred to as the POU domain. The acronym POU (pronounced 'pow') is derived from the names of three mammalian transcription factors, the pituitary-specific Pit-1, the octamer-binding proteins Oct-1 and Oct-2, and the neural Unc-86 from Caenorhabditis elegans. POU domain genes have been identified in diverse organisms including nematodes, flies, amphibians, fish and mammals but have not been yet identified in plants and fungi. The various members of the POU family have a wide variety of functions, all of which are related to the function of the neuroendocrine system [ PUBMED:8462099 ] and the development of an organism [ PUBMED:11159814 ]. Some other genes are also regulated, including those for immunoglobulin light and heavy chains (Oct-2) [ PUBMED:1967834 PUBMED:1967821 ], and trophic hormone genes, such as those for prolactin and growth hormone (Pit-1). collapse
GO process:	regulation of DNA-templated transcription (GO:0006355)
GO function:	DNA-binding transcription factor activity (GO:0003700)
Family alignment:	View the Family alignment or the Alignment consensus sequence
There are 6 887 POU domains in 6 878 proteins in SMART's NRDB database.

Taxonomic distribution of proteins containing POU domains

The tree below includes only several representative species and genera. The complete taxonomic breakdown of all proteins containing POU domains can be accessed here. Click the counts or percentage values to display the corresponding proteins.

Predicted cellular role

Binding / catalysis:	Protein-protein interaction

Relevant references for this domain

Primary literature for the POU domain is listed below. Automatically-derived, secondary literature is also available.

Disease genes where sequence variants are found in this domain

UniRef sequences and OMIM curated human diseases associated with missense mutations within the POU domain.

Protein	Description	Disease / phenotype
PIT1_HUMAN		OMIM:173110 : Pituitary hormone deficiency, combined

KEGG pathways involving proteins which contain this domain

This information is based on the mapping of SMART genomic protein database to KEGG orthologous groups. Percentages are related to the number of proteins containing a POU domain which could be assigned to a KEGG orthologous group, and not all proteins containing POU domains. Please note that proteins can be included in multiple pathways, ie. the numbers below will not add to 100%.

KEGG pathways

Some of these pathways are included in the interactive Pathways Explorer overview maps. Select an overview map and click the button below to highlight them in iPath.

KEGG orthologous groups

Some of these KOs are included in the interactive Pathways Explorer overview maps. Select an overview map and click the button below to highlight them in iPath.

3D structures in PDB containing this domain

Links to other resources describing this domain

PROSITE	POU_2
InterPro	IPR000327
Pfam	pou