InterPro domain: IPR036894

This entry represents a domain superfamily of DNA-binding proteins. It is restricted to bacteria and plants. Members of this family form homodimers which bind DNA via a tweezer-like structure [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The conformation of the DNA is changed when bound to these proteins [ 4 ]. In bacteria, these proteins may play a role in DNA replication-recovery following DNA damage [ 4 ]. The plant form contains an additional N-terminal region that may serve as a transit peptide and shows a close relationship to the cyanobacterial member, suggesting that it is a chloroplast protein.

The crystal structure YbaB from Haemophilus influenzae revealed a tight dimer with a three-layer structure (beta/alpha/beta) [ 4 ].

1. Crystal structure of YbaB from Haemophilus influenzae (HI0442), a protein of unknown function coexpressed with the recombinational DNA repair protein RecR. Proteins 50, 375-9
2. DNA-binding by Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli YbaB, members of a widely-distributed bacterial protein family. BMC Microbiol. 9, 137
3. Borrelia burgdorferi EbfC defines a newly-identified, widespread family of bacterial DNA-binding proteins. Nucleic Acids Res. 37, 1973-83