Zinc finger protein 274 (ZNF274)

Zinc finger protein 274 is a human protein encoded by the ZNF274 gene. It is characterized by the presence of five C2H2-type zinc finger domains, one or two Kruppel-associated box A (KRAB) domains, and a leucine-rich domain. ZNF274 serves primarily as a transcriptional repressor that localizes predominantly to the nucleolus. It functions by binding sequence-specifically to DNA, particularly at the 3’-end of zinc-finger coding genes, and recruits chromatin-modifying proteins such as SETDB1 and TRIM28/KAP1, facilitating transcriptional repression and the maintenance of heterochromatin marks like H3K9me3 at transcriptionally active regions. It has been implicated in the regulation of imprinted gene expression (notably relevant for Prader-Willi syndrome) and may influence chromatin organization and gene silencing in a context-dependent manner. Several transcript variants exist due to alternative splicing and polyadenylation. ZNF274 is not currently recognized as a therapeutic target for any approved drugs, nor as a biomarker.

Other names

HFB101ZF2ZKSCAN19ZSCAN51