A20, AN INHIBITOR OF CELL-DEATH, SELF-ASSOCIATES BY ITS ZINC-FINGER DOMAIN

A20 is a primary response gene which is induced after monocyte adheren ce or cytokine stimulation of a variety of cells, The A20 protein belo ngs to a novel class of Cys(2)/Cys(2) zinc finger proteins, and has be en characterized as an inhibitor of both apoptotic and necrotic cell d eath. In order to clarify its molecular mechanism of action, we used t he yeast-based two-hybrid system to screen for A20-associated proteins , Here we report that A20 is able to self-associate, and demonstrate t hat the latter interaction is mediated by its zinc finger domain.