Zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing protein 5B (ZSCAN5B)

Zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing protein 5B (ZSCAN5B) is a transcription factor characterized by both a C2H2 zinc finger domain—responsible for sequence-specific DNA binding—and a SCAN domain that mediates protein-protein interactions and dimerization with other SCAN domain proteins[3][4][5]. ZSCAN5B is actively expressed in rapidly dividing cells and its expression is cell-cycle regulated, with a marked peak at mitosis[1]. It preferentially binds to RNA polymerase III transcription units, such as tDNA loci, and can also modulate expression of neighboring RNA polymerase II genes through these binding events[1]. ZSCAN5B is implicated in zygotic genome activation (ZGA): it is expressed during early embryogenesis and promotes genome stability, with loss of function leading to increased chromosomal instability and tumorigenesis in stem cell models[2]. There is currently no evidence that ZSCAN5B is a therapeutic target, nor are there documented small molecule drugs that modulate its activity.

Other names

ZSCAN5BZNF495BZNF371zinc finger and SCAN domain-containing protein 5B