Cu_FIST

Copper-Fist
Cu_FIST
SMART accession number:SM00412
Description: binds DNA only in present of copper or silver
Interpro abstract (IPR001083):

Some fungal transcription factors contain an N-terminal domain, the copper fist, which seems to be involved in copper-dependent DNA-binding [ (PUBMED:8262047) (PUBMED:8509391) ]. These proteins activate the transcription of the metallothionein gene in response to copper. Metallothionein maintains copper levels in yeast [ (PUBMED:3052856) (PUBMED:8262047) ]. The copper fist domain, which is similar in structure to metallothionein itself, undergoes a large conformational change on copper-binding that allows DNA-binding. The domain contains a conserved array of zinc-binding residues (Cys-X2-Cys-X8-Cys-X-His) and forms a three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet with two short helical segments that project from one end of the beta-sheet [ (PUBMED:9665167) ]. Conserved residues form a basic patch that may be important for DNA binding.

GO process:regulation of transcription, DNA-templated (GO:0006355)
GO function:copper ion binding (GO:0005507), DNA-binding transcription factor activity (GO:0003700), DNA binding (GO:0003677)
Family alignment:
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There are 310 Cu_FIST domains in 310 proteins in SMART's nrdb database.

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