Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

Binding domain

In molecular biology, binding domain is a protein domain which binds to a specific atom or molecule, such as calcium or DNA. A protein domain is a part of a protein sequence and a tertiary structure that can change or evolve, function, and live by itself independent of the rest of the protein chain. Upon binding, proteins may undergo a conformational change. Binding domains are essential for the function of many proteins. They are essential because they help splice, assemble, and translate proteins.

Last revised
Jun 12, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
167 w
Citations
2
Source
Wikipedia ↗

In molecular biology, binding domain is a protein domain which binds to a specific atom or molecule, such as calcium or DNA. A protein domain is a part of a protein sequence and a tertiary structure that can change or evolve, function, and live by itself independent of the rest of the protein chain.1 Upon binding, proteins may undergo a conformational change. Binding domains are essential for the function of many proteins. They are essential because they help splice, assemble, and translate proteins.2

Examples of binding domains include the Zinc finger, which binds to DNA, and EF hand, which binds to calcium.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Phillips, DC (1966). "The three-dimensional structure of an enzyme molecule". Scientific American. 215 (5): 78–90. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1166-78. PMID 5978599.
  2. Yong, J., T. J. Golembe, D. J. Battle, L. Pellizzoni, and G. Dreyfuss. "SnRNAs Contain Specific SMN-binding Domains That Are Essential for SnRNP Assembly". Molecular and Cellular Biology. U.S. National Library of Medicine, April 2004. Retrieved April 2017.