Runt domain


The Runt domain is an evolutionary conserved protein domain. The AML1/RUNX1 gene is rearranged by the t translocation in acute myeloid leukemia. The gene is highly similar to the Drosophila melanogaster segmentation gene runt and to the mouse transcription factor PEBP2 alpha subunit gene. The region of shared similarity, known as the Runt domain, is responsible for DNA-binding and protein-protein interaction.
In addition to the highly conserved Runt domain, the AML-1 gene product carries a putative ATP-binding site, and has a C-terminal region rich in proline and serine residues. The protein, commonly referred to as RUNX1 binds to the core site, 5'-pygpyggt-3', of a number of enhancers and promoters.
The functional protein forms a heterodimer composed of an alpha and a beta subunit. The alpha subunit can bind DNA on its own and plays an essential role in the development of normal hematopoiesis. CBF is a nuclear protein expressed in numerous tissue types, except brain and heart; highest levels have been found to occur in thymus, bone marrow and peripheral blood.
This domain occurs towards the N-terminus of the proteins in this entry.

Examples

Human genes encoding proteins with a Runt domain include: