RING finger, HC subclass, found in apoptosis protein c-IAP1, c-IAP2, livin, and similar proteins
The cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein c-IAPs function as ubiquitin E3 ligases that mediate the ubiquitination of substrates involved in apoptosis, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling, and oncogenesis. Unlike other IAPs, such as XIAP, c-IAPs exhibit minimal binding to caspases and may not play an important role in the inhibition of these proteases. c-IAP1, also known as baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein BIRC2, IAP-2, RING finger protein 48, or TNFR2-TRAF-signaling complex protein 2, is a potent regulator of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family and NF-kappaB signaling pathways in the cytoplasm. It can also regulate E2F1 transcription factor-mediated control of cyclin transcription in the nucleus. c-IAP2, also known as BIRC3, IAP-1, apoptosis inhibitor 2 (API2), or IAP homolog C, also influences ubiquitin-dependent pathways that modulate innate immune signalling by activation of NF-kappaB. c-IAPs contain three N-terminal baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domains that enable interactions with proteins, a ubiquitin-association (UBA) domain that is responsible for the binding of polyubiquitin (polyUb), a caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) that serves as a protein interaction surface, and a C3HC4-type RING-HC finger at the carboxyl terminus that is required for ubiquitin ligase activity. Livin, also known as baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 7 (BIRC7), kidney inhibitor of apoptosis protein (KIAP), melanoma inhibitor of apoptosis protein (ML-IAP), or RING finger protein 50, was identified as the melanoma IAP. It plays crucial roles in apoptosis, cell proliferation, and cell cycle control. Its anti-apoptotic activity is regulated by the inhibition of caspase-3, -7, and -9. Its E3 ubiquitin-ligase-like activity promotes degradation of Smac/DIABLO, a critical endogenous regulator of all IAPs. Unlike other family members, mammalian livin contains a single BIR domain and a C3HC4-type RING-HC finger. The UBA domain can be detected in non-mammalian homologs of livin.
Comment:C3HC4-type RING-HC finger consensus motif: C-X2-C-X(9-39)-C-X(1-3)-H-X(2-3)-C-X2-C-X(4-48)-C-X2-C, where X is any amino acid and the number of X residues varies in different fingers
Comment:A RING finger typically binds two zinc atoms, with its Cys and/or His side chains in a unique "cross-brace" arrangement.
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