The human oncoprotein ZNF217 is a transcription factor belonging to the zinc finger protein superfamily. ZNF217 is a member of the classical C2H2 zinc finger protein class. The protein is responsible for recognising and binding to specific sites in the major groove of DNA and has been shown to play a role in gene transcriptional repression. This model shows zinc fingers 6 and 7 of the ZNF217 protein (grey) (zinc fingers 1-5 not shown), bound to double-stranded DNA (black). The alpha helix and beta-hairpin making up each zinc finger are coordinated to a Zn ion as a means of stabilisation of this protein fold. This tour highlights the non-canonical and unique binding interactions between ZNF217 and DNA, which have since incited research into the extent of interactions zinc finger proteins can make with DNA.
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