SET domain

Introduction

130-140-amino acid domain, evolutionarily conserved.

Initially characterized in Drosophila proteins: Su(var)3-9, Enhancer-of-zeste, Trithorax

Found in proteins from yeast, mammals, bacteria, viruses

In yeast & mammals, found in proteins involved in: methylation of lysine-9 in the histone H3 N-terminus also requires adjacent cysteine-rich regions. pre & post SET

Plant proteins containing SET domains lack pre- &/or post SET cysteins & are unable to methylate histones

Largely beta strands, organized as 2 structural domains that form an L shape. The pre-SET domain forms a triangular zinc cluster with 9 Cys coordinating 3 Zn+2.

More general terms

• peptide motif
• domain