DNA-binding domain of Tailless (TLX) is composed of two C4-type zinc fingers
DNA-binding domain of Tailless (TLX) is composed of two C4-type zinc fingers. Each zinc finger contains a group of four Cys residues which co-ordinates a single zinc atom. TLX interacts with specific DNA sites upstream of the target gene and modulates the rate of transcriptional initiation. TLX is an orphan receptor that is expressed by neural stem/progenitor cells in the adult brain of the subventricular zone (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG). It plays a key role in neural development by promoting cell cycle progression and preventing apoptosis in the developing brain. Like other members of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors, TLX has a central well conserved DNA-binding domain (DBD), a variable N-terminal domain, a flexible hinge and a C-terminal ligand binding domain (LBD).