Zinc finger and AT-hook domain-containing protein (ZFAT) (ZFAT)

Zinc finger and AT-hook domain-containing protein (ZFAT) is a multifunctional transcription factor characterized by 18 C2H2-type zinc finger domains and a single AT-hook motif, highly conserved across vertebrates[1][2][3][5][6]. Predominantly located in the nucleus, ZFAT plays key roles in immune cell survival, apoptosis regulation, and gene expression modulation in B and T lymphocytes. It is expressed mainly in peripheral lymphoid organs, such as thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes, and is essential for hematopoietic differentiation and embryonic development. ZFAT has been implicated as a susceptibility gene for autoimmune thyroid disease and multiple sclerosis through its regulatory effects on immune gene networks, especially by binding to promoter regions of key transcription factors governing blood and vascular development. ZFAT’s structural uniqueness includes uncommon bulged-helix zinc-fingers and modular tandem repeats, which enable specific DNA binding and gene regulation. Deficiency in ZFAT leads to impaired hematopoietic development and is embryonically lethal in knockout mouse models, demonstrating its essential physiological functions. No drugs or direct small-molecule inhibitors or modulators of ZFAT have been identified; thus, it is not currently considered a therapeutic target in a traditional sense, but is an important gene of interest for understanding autoimmune disease, hematopoiesis, and immune cell regulation[2][3][5][6].

Other names

ZFATKIAA1485ZFAT1ZNF406Zinc finger gene in AITD susceptibility regionZinc finger protein 406AITD3zinc finger gene in autoimmune thyroid diseasezinc finger protein ZFAT