Z-DNA and Z-DNA binding proteins Seminar

Z-DNA, one of alternative forms of double-stranded DNA, is involved in a variety of nucleotide metabolism such as replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling. Z-DNA can be stabilized by negative supercoiling, and also recognized by specific Z-DNA binding proteins (ZBPs). Three ZBPs known in vertebrates, ADAR1, DAI and PKZ, are commonly involved in innate immunity, particularly, the IFN-induced immune response. The E3L protein of vaccinia virus, a viral ZBP, appears to compete with the host ZBP for Z-DNA binding, thereby suppressing the host immune system. In these regards, an intrinsic question is how ZBPs recognize Z-DNA and how B-DNA is converted to Z-form DNA. To provide a comprehensive answer to these questions, multidisciplinary approaches should be provided for the study of protein-DNA interaction or the structural study of Z-DNA. In this seminar, an overview of Z-DNA and ZBPs is provided. Furthermore, current understating of the ZBP binding mode to Z-DNA and the B-to-Z transition mechanism will be presented. Finally, the new perspectives on Z-DNA and ZBPs will be discussed.