A novel zinc finger coiled-coil domain in a family of nuclear proteins

A new zinc-finger motif with the structure CX2CX9-27CXHX2CX6-17CX2C, where X is any amino acid, has been identified in a newly-discovered family of nuclear proteins. Apart from this motif, called the RING finger, several proteins in this family contain an associated B box motif and a coiled-coil domain. The B box and the coiled-coil domain in proteins such as T18 and PML may play an important role in the growth and differentiation of cells.