Growth factor independent 1 transcriptional repressor (GFI1)

Growth factor independent 1 transcriptional repressor (GFI1) is a zinc finger transcription factor that acts as a transcriptional repressor and plays a crucial role in hematopoiesis, particularly in the regulation of neutrophil and lymphoid cell development[1][3][4][6][8][9]. It is a 55 kDa nuclear protein characterized by a SNAG (Snail/Gfi1) domain and six C2H2-type zinc fingers that bind specific DNA sequences to repress gene expression[2][3][9]. GFI1 controls cell survival by repressing pro-apoptotic genes and promoting cell proliferation while also regulating cell fate decisions in hematopoietic, neuroendocrine, and sensory neuron lineages[1][3][4][6][8]. Mutations in GFI1 are causative for severe congenital neutropenia and idiopathic chronic neutropenia, and dysregulation or abnormal expression has been associated with various cancers, including leukemia and small cell lung cancer[3][4][6]. GFI1 interacts with multiple protein partners, including the LSD1 histone demethylase and the NuRD chromatin remodeling complex, to control the epigenetic landscape of its target genes[5][1]. It is not currently a direct therapeutic target for any approved drugs and, as a critical regulator of blood and immune cell development, its inhibition could lead to significant safety concerns such as cytopenias[4][6][8].

Other names

Zinc finger protein Gfi-1ZNF163GFI1AGrowth factor independent protein 1Growth factor independence-1Zinc finger protein 163SCN2

Not applicable—no approved drugs known to directly target GFI1 as of current knowledge[4][6][8].