ATRX
Encyclopedia
Transcriptional regulator ATRX also known as ATP-dependent helicase ATRX, X-linked helicase II, or X-linked nuclear protein (XNP) is a protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the ATRX gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Function

Transcriptional regulator ATRX contains an ATPase
ATPase
ATPases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the decomposition of adenosine triphosphate into adenosine diphosphate and a free phosphate ion. This dephosphorylation reaction releases energy, which the enzyme harnesses to drive other chemical reactions that would not otherwise occur...

 / helicase
Helicase
Helicases are a class of enzymes vital to all living organisms. They are motor proteins that move directionally along a nucleic acid phosphodiester backbone, separating two annealed nucleic acid strands using energy derived from ATP hydrolysis.-Function:Many cellular processes Helicases are a...

 domain, and thus it belongs to the SWI/SNF
SWI/SNF
SWI/SNF is a yeast nucleosome remodeling complex composed of several proteins – products of the SWI and SNF genes as well as several other polypeptides...

 family of chromatin remodeling
Chromatin remodeling
Chromatin remodeling is the enzyme-assisted movement of nucleosomes on DNA.This is performed by chromatin remodeling complexes like SWI/SNF , RSC and Imitation SWI complexes ....

 proteins. This protein is found to undergo cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation, which regulates its nuclear matrix and chromatin association, and suggests its involvement in the gene regulation at interphase and chromosomal segregation in mitosis.

Clinical significance

Mutations of the ATRX gene are associated with an X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) syndrome most often accompanied by alpha-thalassemia
Alpha-thalassemia mental retardation syndrome
Alpha-thalassemia mental retardation syndrome , also called alpha-thalassemia X-linked mental retardation, nondeletion type or ATR-X syndrome, is a condition caused by a mutated gene. Females with this mutated gene have no specific signs or features, but may demonstrate skewed X chromosome...

 (ATRX) syndrome. These mutations have been shown to cause diverse changes in the pattern of DNA methylation
DNA methylation
DNA methylation is a biochemical process that is important for normal development in higher organisms. It involves the addition of a methyl group to the 5 position of the cytosine pyrimidine ring or the number 6 nitrogen of the adenine purine ring...

, which may provide a link between chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation, and gene expression in developmental processes. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. Female carriers may demonstrate skewed X chromosome inactivation.

Interactions

ATRX has been shown to interact
Protein-protein interaction
Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...

 with EZH2
EZH2
Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EZH2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the EZH2 gene.This gene encodes a member of the Polycomb-group family. PcG family members form multimeric protein complexes, which are involved in maintaining the transcriptional repressive state of genes over...

 and RAD51
RAD51
RAD51 is a human gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the RAD51 protein family which assist in repair of DNA double strand breaks. RAD51 family members are homologous to the bacterial RecA and yeast Rad51...

.

External Links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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