PROSITE documentation PDOC51165

THUMP domain profile

The THUMP (after thiouridine synthases, RNA methylases and pseudouridine synthases) domain is a module of 100-110 amino acid residues which is involved RNA metabolism. It is shared by enzymes that are predicted to carry out at least three unrelated types of RNA-modification, namely methylation, pseudouridylation and thiouridylation. The THUMP domain can occur in stand-alone form or in association with a variety of catalytic domains, like methylase, pseudo U-synthase or rhodanese (see <PDOC00322>). THUMP is an ancient domain with predicted RNA-binding capacity that probably functions by delivering a variety of RNA modification enzymes to their targets. The THUMP domain apparently evolved prior to the divergence of the primary divisions of life [1].

The THUMP domain has been predicted to adopt an α/β fold similar to that found in the C-terminal domain of translation initiation factor 3 and ribosomal protein S8 [1].

Some proteins known to contain a THUMP domain are listed below:

• Bacterial and archaeal thiI-like 4-thiouridine synthases.
• Bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic RNA methylases.
• Archaeal pseudouridine synthases (PSUSs).
• Several uncharacterized proteins.

The profile we developed covers the entire THUMP domain.