Disease relevance of ZNF385

• Taken together, these observations suggest that RZF is a shuttling regulatory protein expressed in photoreceptors of the human retina that may be involved in mRNA or protein regulation of photoreceptor-specific genes and therefore have role in retinal disease mechanisms [1].

High impact information on ZNF385

• Using an expression gene trapping strategy, we recently identified a novel gene, hematopoietic zinc finger (Hzf), which encodes a protein containing three C(2)H(2)-type zinc fingers that is predominantly expressed in megakaryocytes [2].
• Hzf-deficient mice exhibited a pronounced tendency to rebleed and had reduced alpha-granule substances in both megakaryocytes and platelets [2].
• Zinc finger protein, Hzf, is required for megakaryocyte development and hemostasis [2].
• Interestingly, fragment C (-64/-26) included potential binding sites for the hematopoietic zinc finger-containing transcription factor Ikaros (Ik) flanked by binding sites for Sp and Ets-type factors [3].
• STAT4 is a target of the hematopoietic zinc-finger transcription factor Ikaros in T cells [4].

Biological context of ZNF385

• RZF, a zinc-finger protein in the photoreceptors of human retina [1].
• Future studies of Hzf and Hhl should provide valuable information on the role these genes play during megakaryocytopoiesis [5].
• The Ikaros gene (symbol ZNFN1A1) encodes the hematopoietic zinc finger DNA binding protein, which is now recognized as a central regulator of lymphoid differentiation and has been implicated in leukemogenesis [6].
• The sequence of the eight exons of the HZF gene as well as the study of its expression in blood samples from five patients belonging to three different families did not reveal any modifications when compared with healthy donors [7].

Anatomical context of ZNF385

• Expression analysis revealed that orthologues of the RZF gene are also expressed in photoreceptors of mouse and bovine retina [1].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of ZNF385

• Mobility shift assay suggests that RZF may not be a nucleic acid binding protein, unlike most other zinc-finger proteins [1].
• Here, we have examined the in vivo function of Hzf by gene targeting and demonstrated that Hzf is essential for megakaryopoiesis and hemostasis in vivo [2].

References