The Basic Leucine Zipper Domain (bZIP domain) is found in many DNA binding eukaryotic proteins. One part of the domain contains a region that mediates sequence specific DNA binding properties and the leucine zipper that is required to hold together (dimerize) two DNA binding regions. The DNA binding region comprises a number of basic amino acids such as arginine and lysine. Proteins containing this domain are transcription factors.[1][2]
bZIP transcription factors
bZIP transcription factors are found in all eukaryotes and form one of the largest families of dimerizing TFs.[3] An evolutionary study from 2008 revealed that 4 bZIP genes were encoded by the genome of the most recent common ancestor of all plants.[4] Interactions between bZIP transcription factors are numerous and complex [5][6][3] and play important roles in cancer development[7] in epithelial tissues, steroid hormone synthesis by cells of endocrine tissues,[8] factors affecting reproductive functions,[9] and several other phenomena that affect human health.
^Ellenberger T (1994). "Getting a grip in DNA recognition: structures of the basic region leucine zipper, and the basic region helix-loop-helix DNA-binding domains". Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 4 (1): 12–21. doi:10.1016/S0959-440X(94)90054-X.
^Hurst HC (1995). "Transcription factors 1: bZIP proteins". Protein Profile. 2 (2): 101–68. PMID7780801.
^ abAmoutzias, Grigoris D.; Robertson, David L.; Van de Peer, Yves; Oliver, Stephen G. (2008-05-01). "Choose your partners: dimerization in eukaryotic transcription factors". Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 33 (5): 220–229. doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2008.02.002. ISSN0968-0004. PMID18406148.
^Vlahopoulos SA, Logotheti S, Mikas D, Giarika A, Gorgoulis V, Zoumpourlis V (April 2008). "The role of ATF-2 in oncogenesis". BioEssays. 30 (4): 314–27. doi:10.1002/bies.20734. PMID18348191. S2CID678541.
