Background information
The tripartite motif (TRIM) family of proteins are characterized by a conserved TRIM domain that includes a coiled-coil region, a B-box type zinc finger, one RING finger and three zinc-binding domains. TRIM50 (tripartite motif containing 50), also known as TRIM50A or E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase TRIM50, is a 487 amino acid cytoplasmic protein that functions as an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. Containing one RING-type zinc finger, a B30.2/SPRY domain and a single B box-type zinc finger, TRIM50 belongs to the TRIM/RBCC family and undergoes post-translational auto-ubiquitination. TRIM50 exists as two alternatively spliced isoforms, designated TRIM50 alpha and TRIM50 beta, and has the ability to form dimers and trimers. The gene encoding TRIM50 maps to human chromosome 7, which houses over 1,000 genes, comprises nearly 5% of the human genome and has been linked to Osteogenesis imperfecta, Pendred syndrome, Lissencephaly, Citrullinemia and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome.
