DNA-binding protein

DNA-binding proteins are proteins that comprise any of many DNA-binding domains and thus have a specific or general affinity to DNA.

DNA-binding proteins include transcription factors which modulate the process of transcription, nucleases which cleave DNA molecules, and histones which are involved in DNA packaging in the cell nucleus.

Sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins generally interact with the major groove of B-DNA, because it exposes more functional groups that identify a base pair.

The specificity of DNA-binding proteins can be identified using the DNase footprinting technique.

DNA binding proteins consist of the zinc finger, the helix turn helix, and the leucine zipper (including others).