Open Access Research article

SPOC: A widely distributed domain associated with cancer, apoptosis and transcription

Luis Sánchez-Pulido1*, Ana M Rojas1, Karel H van Wely2, Carlos Martinez-A2 and Alfonso Valencia1

Author Affiliations

1 Protein Design Group, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC). Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain

2 Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC). Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain

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BMC Bioinformatics 2004, 5:91 doi:10.1186/1471-2105-5-91

Published: 7 July 2004

Abstract

Background

The Split ends (Spen) family are large proteins characterised by N-terminal RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a conserved SPOC (Spen paralog and ortholog C-terminal) domain. The aim of this study is to characterize the family at the sequence level.

Results

We describe undetected members of the Spen family in other lineages (Plasmodium and Plants) and localise SPOC in a new domain context, in a family that is common to all eukaryotes using profile-based sequence searches and structural prediction methods.

Conclusions

The widely distributed DIO (Death inducer-obliterator) family is related to cancer and apoptosis and offers new clues about SPOC domain functionality.