Title
Meisetz and the birth of the KRAB motif.
Abstract
The largest family of transcription factors in mammals is of Cys(2)His(2) zinc finger-proteins, each with an NH(2)-terminal KRAB motif. Extensive expansions of this family have occurred in separate mammalian lineages, with approximately 400 such genes known in the human genome. Despite their widespread occurrence, the evolutionary provenance of the KRAB motif is unclear since previously it has not been found outside of the tetrapod vertebrates. Here, we show that homologues of the histone methyltransferase Meisetz are present within the sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) genome. Sea urchin and mammalian Meisetz sequences each contain an N-terminal KRAB motif, which thereby establishes an early origin of the KRAB motif prior to the divergence of echinoderm and chordate lineages. Finally, we present evidence that KRAB motifs derive from a novel family of KRI (KRAB Interior) motifs that were present in the last common ancestor of animals, plants and fungi.
Year
DOI
Venue
2006
10.1093/bioinformatics/btl498
Bioinformatics
Keywords
Field
DocType
largest family,krab interior,present evidence,novel family,histone methyltransferase meisetz,n-terminal krab motif,sea urchin,nh2-terminal krab motif,krab motif,krab motifs derive,n terminal,last common ancestor,human genome,transcription factor,zinc finger protein
Genome,Echinoderm,Chordate,Gene,Histone methyltransferase,Biology,Strongylocentrotus purpuratus,Human genome,Most recent common ancestor,Genetics
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
22
23
1367-4811
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
2
0.40
9
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Zoë Birtle120.40
Chris P. Ponting2733283.28