Nucleic acid binding by zinc finger-like motif of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 6b E7 proteins and their chimeric or mutant proteins were analyzed for oligonucleotide-binding activity by surface plasmon resonance-based biomolecular interaction analysis. The results indicated that type 16 E7 protein has stronger nucleic acid-binding activity than that of type 6b E7 protein. In addition, the results also indicated that the zinc finger-like motif in the C-terminal region of the type 16 E7 protein plays an important role in this activity.