Molecular visualization of the ZIF268-DNA interaction (under construction)

This web page uses the open-source Java Applet program Jmol, a platform-independent replacement for Chime and Rasmol, neither of which is available in an OS X native version. You will need a relatively recent Java Virtual Machine to use it.

The buttons below are generally intended to be clicked in order.

This tutorial illustrates 1aay.pdb, the structure of the Zif-268:DNA complex, by Pavletich and Pabo. Each "finger" contacts primarily three nucleotides on one strand of the DNA. The Zinc serves to fold the domains, not to interact with DNA.

DNA/RNA tutorial home
Teaching resources
J. Kahn home page

Here are the text files that back up the buttons, so you can see the syntax used for Jmol. You should even be able to cut and paste from these files into the Jmol console and reproduce what the buttons do.

  1. Initial view
  2. Focus on Interaction with DNA
  3. Focus on zinc ligands
  4. Focus on buttressing Asps
  5. Zoom in on one interactions