[ PDB file ] [ PubMed link ]
MyT1 is a zinc finger transcription factor that is involved in neuronal development, controlling genes that are important for myelin sheath formation. It contains 7 zinc fingers with an unusual consensus sequence, and these domains have been shown previously to be responsible for the DNA-binding properties of MyT1. We have determined the solution structure of one of these zinc fingers, as a preliminary step towards understanding how these domains recognize DNA. The structure is different from all other known classes of zinc fingers, and contains no elements of regular secondary structure. We have gone on to examine the binding of this domain to DNA (see below!).