Synthetic zinc finger peptides: old and novel applications

• Published in: Biochemistry and cell biology Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 428 - 436
• Main Authors: Corbi, Nicoletta, Libri, Valentina, Onori, Annalisa, Passananti, Claudio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.08.2004; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Biotechnology; Chromatin; Chromatin - chemistry; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA - chemistry; Gene therapy; Genetic Techniques; Genetic Therapy - methods; Humans; Models, Molecular; Peptides; Peptides - chemistry; Protein Engineering; Protein Structure, Secondary; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Proteins; Transcription, Genetic; Zinc; Zinc Fingers
• ISSN: 0829-8211; 1208-6002
• DOI: 10.1139/o04-047

In the last decade, the efforts in clarifying the interaction between zinc finger proteins and DNA targets strongly stimulated the creativity of scientists in the field of protein engineering. In particular, the versatility and the modularity of zinc finger (ZF) motives make these domains optimal building blocks for generating artificial zinc finger peptides (ZFPs). ZFPs can act as transcription modulators potentially able to control the expression of any desired gene, when fused to an appropriate effector domain. Artificial ZFPs open the possibility to re-program the expression of specific genes at will and can represent a powerful tool in basic science, biotechnology and gene therapy. In this review we will focus on old, novel and possible future applications of artificial ZFPs.Key words: synthetic zinc finger, recognition code, artificial transcription factor, chromatin modification, gene therapy.