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The WPP domain is a 
protein domain
In molecular biology, a protein domain is a region of a protein's polypeptide chain that is self-stabilizing and that folds independently from the rest. Each domain forms a compact folded three-dimensional structure. Many proteins consist of s ...
thought to be exclusively found in plants, first identified in 2000. The domain is about 90 amino acid residues long.
The domain is known to direct RanGAP RanGAP is a protein involved in the transport of other proteins from the cytosol to the nucleus in eukaryotic cells.
In model species such as the yeast ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'', the primate ''Homo sapiens'' (See RANGAP1) and the plant '' Arabid ...
to the nuclear envelope
The nuclear envelope, also known as the nuclear membrane, is made up of two lipid bilayer membranes that in eukaryotic cells surround the nucleus, which encloses the genetic material.
The nuclear envelope consists of two lipid bilayer membrane ...
. Non-RanGAP nuclear envelope proteins are also known to encode WPP domains, such as MFP1 attachment factor 1 (MAF1), WPP1{{cite journal , vauthors=Patel S, Rose A, Meulia T, Dixit R, Cyr RJ, Meier I , title=Arabidopsis WPP-domain proteins are developmentally associated with the nuclear envelope and promote cell division , journal=The Plant Cell
''The Plant Cell'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of plant sciences, especially the areas of cell and molecular biology, genetics, development, and evolution. It is published by the American Society of Plant Biologists. The editor-i ...
, volume=16 , issue=12 , pages=3260–73 , date=December 2004 , pmid=15548735 , pmc=535872 , doi=10.1105/tpc.104.026740 and WPP2.
The WPP stands for a tryptophan
Tryptophan (symbol Trp or W)
is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Tryptophan contains an α-amino group, an α- carboxylic acid group, and a side chain indole, making it a polar molecule with a non-polar aromatic ...
-proline
Proline (symbol Pro or P) is an organic acid classed as a proteinogenic amino acid (used in the biosynthesis of proteins), although it does not contain the amino group but is rather a secondary amine. The secondary amine nitrogen is in the prot ...
-proline motif that is highly conserved in the domain. Either deletion of the WPP domain or mutation of both the namesake tryptophan and first proline residues into alanine
Alanine (symbol Ala or A), or α-alanine, is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an amine group and a carboxylic acid group, both attached to the central carbon atom which also carries a methyl group side c ...
in the ''Arabidopsis thaliana'' protein RanGAP1 leads to mis-targeting in the majority of cells.
References