February 1, 2006 (Vol. 26, No. 3)

URL:
http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~biology/Tutorials/DNAbinding.htm

Rating:
Strong Points: Interactive images
Weak Points: Excellent

Summary:
What you get here is a lot more than what you see at first glance. On the opening page of the rather vanilla DNA-Binding Motifs page is a set of links to structures for the four major protein motifs involved in DNA binding (helix-turn-helix, helix-loop-helix, zinc fingers, and leucine zippers). Clicking on any of the links brings up windows with Java-based molecular structures. Each window provides users with controls for highlighting residues in protein or DNA, the ability to view from any angle, and the ability to rotate the assigned structure in space. Wow! This is very cool. I just found a great tool for teaching these structures to my winter-term biochemistry students.

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