InterPro domain: IPR002836

This protein family is found in archaea and eukaryota. Proteins in this family contain a predicted DNA-binding domain [ 1 ] and may function as DNA-binding proteins. Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum MTH1615 was predicted to bind DNA based on structural proteomics data, and this was confirmed by the demonstration that it can interact non-specifically with a randomly chosen 20-mer of double stranded DNA [ 2 ]. This suggests that the human protein may be involved in nucleic acid binding or metabolism.

The human programmed cell death protein 5 (PDCD5, also known as TFAR19) encodes a protein which shares significant homology to the corresponding proteins of species ranging from yeast to mice. PDCD5 exhibits a ubiquitous expression pattern and its expression is up-regulated in the tumour cells undergoing apoptosis. PDCD5 may play a general role in the apoptotic process [ 2 , 3 ].

1. Structural proteomics of an archaeon. Nat. Struct. Biol. 7, 903-9
2. TFAR19, a novel apoptosis-related gene cloned from human leukemia cell line TF-1, could enhance apoptosis of some tumor cells induced by growth factor withdrawal. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 254, 203-10
3. Structure-function correlation of human programmed cell death 5 protein. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 486, 141-9