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We are deeply saddened by the passing of Amos Bairoch (1957–2025), the creator of PROSITE. We wish to dedicate our latest paper, published shortly before his death, to him. He will always be a source of inspiration to us.
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Amos Bairoch

PROSITE documentation PDOC50966
Zinc finger SWIM-type profile


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PURL: https://purl.expasy.org/prosite/documentation/PDOC50966

Description

The zinc finger-like domain SWIM was first identified in the bacterial ATPases of the SWI2/SNF2 family, the plant MuDR transposases and vertebrate MEK kinase-1. It is represented in all major lineages of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. It has the signature of predicted zinc-binding residues C-x-C-x(6,25)-C-x-H surounded by two blocks of conserved residues, an N-terminal aromatic/hydrophobic motif and a C-terminal region enriched in small and hydrophobic residues. The SWIM domain appears to have a β-β-α structure suggesting that it might adopt a fold similar to that of the classic C2H2 zinc-finger (see <PDOC00028>). The function of the SWIM domain is not yet known [1].

Some of the proteins containing a SWIM-type zinc finger are listed below:

  • Vertebrate MEKK-1. It is part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. It interacts with the cytoskeletal protein α-actinin, 14-3-3 proteins and c-Jun.
  • Plant MuDR transposases. The mutator transposon MuDR is one of the largest families of mobile elements in plants.
  • Plant nuclear protein FAR1.
  • Bacterial SWI2/SNF2 ATPases.
  • Escherichia coli hypothetical protein yehQ.

The profile we developed covers the whole SWIM domain.

Last update:

March 2004 / First entry.

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Technical section

PROSITE method (with tools and information) covered by this documentation:

ZF_SWIM, PS50966; Zinc finger SWIM-type profile  (MATRIX)


Reference

1AuthorsMakarova K.S. Aravind L. Koonin E.V.
TitleSWIM, a novel Zn-chelating domain present in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes.
SourceTrends Biochem. Sci. 27:384-386(2002).
PubMed ID12151216



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