InterPro domain: IPR008030

NmrA is a negative transcriptional regulator of various fungi, involved in the post-translational modulation of the GATA-type transcription factor AreA [ 1 ]. NmrA lacks the canonical GXXGXXG NAD-binding motif and has altered residues at the catalytic triad, including a Met instead of the critical Tyr residue. NmrA may bind nucleotides but appears to lack any dehydrogenase activity. It lacks most of the active site residues of the SDR (short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases) family, but has an NAD(P)-binding motif similar to the extended SDR family, GXXGXXG [ 2 ].

This domain can also be found in other atypical SDRs, such as HSCARG (an NADPH sensor) [ 3 ] and PCBER (phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase) [ 4 ].

1. Structural analysis of the recognition of the negative regulator NmrA and DNA by the zinc finger from the GATA-type transcription factor AreA. J. Mol. Biol. 381, 373-82
2. The structure of the negative transcriptional regulator NmrA reveals a structural superfamily which includes the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductases. EMBO J. 20, 6619-26
3. An NADPH sensor protein (HSCARG) down-regulates nitric oxide synthesis by association with argininosuccinate synthetase and is essential for epithelial cell viability. J. Biol. Chem. 283, 11004-13
4. Crystal structures of pinoresinol-lariciresinol and phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductases and their relationship to isoflavone reductases. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 50714-23