Phenomena and Processes

Zinc Fingers

Motifs in DNA- and RNA-binding proteins whose amino acids are folded into a single structural unit around a zinc atom. In the classic zinc finger, one zinc atom is bound to two cysteines and two histidines. In between the cysteines and histidines are 12 residues which form a DNA binding fingertip. By variations in the composition of the sequences in the fingertip and the number and spacing of tandem repeats of the motif, zinc fingers can form a large number of different sequence specific binding sites.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Motifs in DNA- and RNA-binding proteins whose amino acids are folded into a single structural unit around a zinc atom. In the classic zinc finger, one zinc atom is bound to two cysteines and two histidines. In between the cysteines and histidines are 12 residues which form a DNA binding fingertip. By variations in the composition of the sequences in the fingertip and the number and spacing of tandem repeats of the motif, zinc fingers can form a large number of different sequence specific binding sites.

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Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Zinc Finger Motifs
  • Finger, Zinc
  • Fingers, Zinc
  • Motif, Zinc Finger
  • Motifs, Zinc Finger
  • Zinc Finger
  • Zinc Finger Motif
  • Zinc Finger DNA-Binding Domains
  • Zinc Finger DNA Binding Domains

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Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings drug effects, genetics, immunology, physiology, radiation effects.

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History Note

91

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Amino Acid Sequence (1987-1990)
  • DNA-Binding Proteins (1987-1990)
  • Molecular Sequence Data (1988-1990)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. G02.111.570.820w.709.275.500.985w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Zinc Fingers. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016335. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016335
  2. Zinc Fingers. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_finger
  3. Zinc Fingers. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204785