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 FF Domain | |
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| Class:Phospho-Ser binding | |
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Structure:
 The FF domain is composed of three α-helices arranged in an orthogonal bundle with a 310 helix positioned in a loop between the second and third helices. Consistent with its arrangement in tandem arrays, the N- and C-termini are found at opposite ends of the structure. Two highly conserved phenylalanine residues are found in the middle of the first and third helices, and help form the hydrophobic core of the protein. The FF domain structure differs significantly from other phosphoserine/threonine-binding domains, and represents a novel fold for these modules. It has been proposed that interactions with ligand might be mediated through a cluster of positively charged residues between helices 1 and 4.
Structure Reference:
Allen, M., et al. (2002) J. Mol. Biol. 323(3): 411-416.
"FF domain from human HYPA/FBP11". PDB: 1UZC.
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Domain binding and function:
The FF domain is present in a variety of nuclear transcription and splicing factors, as well as the p190 family of RhoGAPs. The domains are well conserved from yeast to humans, and are also found in plant proteins. Characterized by two conserved phenylalanines at the N- and C-termini, FF domains are ~ 50-60 amino acids in length, and are often arranged in tandem repeats. The FF domain fold consists of three α-helices arranged as an orthogonal bundle with a 310 helix in the loop connecting the second and the third helix. FF domains from both the human transcription factor CA150 and the splicing factor hHYPA/FBP11 have been shown to interact with a serine phosphorylated C-terminal Domain (CTD) from RNA Polymerase II. FF domains from CA150 can also bind to multiple (D/E)2/5-F/W/Y-(D/E)2/5 motifs with low affinity. Interestingly, all of the nuclear FF domain-containing proteins also possess WW domains towards their N-terminus. This may function in coupling the processes of transcription and splicing, as these WW domains can interact with essential splicing proteins such as mBBP/SF1.
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Examples of Proteins:
| FF domain protein |
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Binding partner |
| Human transcription factor CA150 |  |
RNA Polymerase II C-terminal Domain (CTD) phosphorylated on serine |
| Yeast Splicing Factor Prp40 | |
RNA Polymerase II C-terminal Domain (CTD) phosphorylated on serine |
Yeast Splicing Factor HYPA/FBP11
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RNA Polymerase II C-terminal Domain (CTD) phosphorylated on serine
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Referenced in part on Cell Signaling Technology Website, Reference Section on Protein Domains. We gratefully acknowledge the following contributors:
Piers Nash1, Dan Lin3, Kathleen Binns2, Clark Wells2, Rob Ingham2, Terry Kubiseski2, Bernard Liu1, Matt Smith2,3, Ivan Blasutig2,3, Maria Sierra1, Caesar Lim2,3, Michael Arc1, Jim Fawcett2 and Tony Pawson2,3.
1. Ben May Institute for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA
2. Program in Molecular Biology and Cancer, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada
3. Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
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