Myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1)

Myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) is a zinc finger transcription factor belonging to the SCAN-zinc finger (SCAN-ZF) family and is essential for regulating gene expression by recognizing and binding specific DNA sequences[1][2][3][4]. It is involved in hematopoietic differentiation, where it represses genes like CD34 or c-myb, impeding differentiation and potentially promoting leukemia-like phenotypes[1][3]. MZF1 also plays a significant role in various solid tumors, facilitating cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis by modulating the expression of many target genes[2][3]. The protein localizes to promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), where posttranslational modifications such as SUMOylation and phosphorylation regulate its transactivating and repressing functions[1][2][4]. MZF1 function is context-dependent and includes both activating and repressing gene transcription, with roles in both normal development and malignancy. Aberrant MZF1 expression or mutation is associated with diverse cancer types, where it can act as a biomarker for prognosis and may participate in the regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment[3]. Specific small-molecule or biologic drugs directly targeting MZF1 are not currently established in clinical practice.

Other names

MZF1ZNF42ZSCAN6MZFMZF-1Zfp98Zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing protein 6Zinc finger protein 42MZF1BZFP98myeloid zinc finger 1zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing protein 6zinc finger protein 42 (myeloid-specific retinoic acid-responsive)