NRSF/REST is a kind of negative transcription factor for some special neuron gene expression. The interaction between the zinc finger 9 located in its C-terminal repression domain and co-repression factor CoREST partially induces NRSF/REST negative transcription function. However the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In order to study this mechanism later, here the solution structure of zinc finger 9 was determined by NMR techniques, which finally demonstrated that it contained classic C2H2 zinc finger properties. This might indicate its key function in the special identification of DNA or RNA by NRSF/REST.

Key words: NRSF/REST, zinc finger 9, NMR, solution structure