ZBP1 Background Information
Left-handed Z-DNA is a higher energy form of the double helix. Proteins containing Za domains share a remarkable ability to bind specifically to Z-DNA and/or Z-RNA. ZBP1 (Z-DNA binding protein 1), also designated DLM-1, is a 429 amino acid protein that harbors two copies of the Za domain containing the Za motif at its N-terminus. ZBP1 is involved in host responses against cellular stresses, including tumorigenesis and viral infection. It is highly expressed in lymphatic tissues including leukocytes, lymph node, tonsil, bone marrow, spleen and, to a lesser extent, in thymus, lung and liver. There are five known isoforms of human ZBP1. The ZBP1 protein shares 47% and 46% sequence identity with the mouse and rat homologs, respectively. The mouse, rat, and human ZBP1 proteins all contain four conserved regions, two of which are homologous to the Z-DNA binding domains Za and Zb of the RNA editing enzyme ADAR1.
