Effects of zinc-finger proteins and artificial zinc-finger proteins on microbial metabolisms--a review.
- Author:
Zhuo LIU
;
Fei ZHANG
;
Xinqing ZHAO
;
Fengwu BAI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Bacteria;
metabolism;
DNA;
chemistry;
Protein Engineering;
Transcription Factors;
chemistry;
Transcriptional Activation;
Zinc Fingers
- From:
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology
2014;30(3):331-340
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Zinc-finger proteins have been widely studied due to their highly conserved structures and DNA-binding specificity of zinc-finger domains. However, researches on the zinc-finger proteins from microorganisms, especially those from prokaryotes, are still very limited. This review focuses on the latest progress on microbial zinc-finger proteins, especially those from prokaryotes and the application of artificial zinc-finger proteins in the breeding of robust strains. Artificial zinc-finger proteins with transcriptional activation or repression domain can regulate the global gene transcription of microbial cells to acquire improved phenotypes, such as stress tolerance to heat, ethanol, butanol, and osmotic pressure. Using the zinc-finger domain as DNA scaffold in the construction of enzymatic system can enhance the catalytic efficiency and subsequently the production of specific metabolites. Currently, zinc-finger domains used in the construction of artificial transcription factor are usually isolated from mammalian cells. In the near future, novel transcription factors can be designed for strain development based on the natural zinc-finger domains from different microbes, which may be used to regulate the global gene expression of microbial cells more efficiently.
