The RING finger protein SNURF is a bifunctional protein possessing DNA binding activity

The small nuclear C(3)HC(4) finger protein (SNURF), RNF4, acts as transcriptional coactivator for both steroid-dependent and -independent promoters such as those driven by androgen response elements and GC boxes, respectively. However, SNURF does not possess intrinsic transcription activation function, and the precise molecular mechanism of its action is unknown. We have studied herein the interaction of SNURF with DNA in vitro. SNURF binds to linear double-stranded DNA with no apparent sequence specificity in a cooperative fashion that is highly dependent on the length of the DNA fragment used. SNURF interacts efficiently with both supercoiled circular and four-way junction DNA, and importantly, it also recognizes nucleosomes. An intact RING structure of SNURF is not mandatory for DNA binding, whereas mutations of specific positively charged residues in the N terminus (amino acids 8-11) abolish DNA binding. Interestingly, the ability of SNURF to interact with DNA is associated with its capability to enhance transcription from promoters containing GC box elements. Because SNURF can interact with both DNA and protein (transcription) factors, it may promote assembly of nucleoprotein structures.