Zinc finger protein GLIS2 (GLIS2)

Zinc finger protein GLIS2 (GLIS2) is a nuclear transcription factor belonging to the Krüppel-like family of C2H2-type zinc finger proteins.[1][2][3][4][7] It contains five tandem zinc finger motifs and operates both as a repressor and activator of gene transcription depending on cell context. GLIS2 is critical in the maintenance of normal kidney structure (inhibiting apoptosis and fibrosis), neuronal differentiation, and the regulation of important developmental signaling pathways such as Hedgehog and Wnt.[1][3][4][7] High expression is observed in the kidney, and loss-of-function mutations in GLIS2 cause nephronophthisis type 7 (NPHP7), a genetic kidney disease. Experimental findings support a potential therapeutic role for GLIS2 inhibition in polycystic kidney disease, but it is not currently an established drug target.[6]

Other names

GLIS family zinc finger 2Gli-similar 2GLIS2NKLNPHP7Neuronal Krueppel-like proteinNephrocystin-7Kruppel-like zinc finger protein GLIS2

Transcriptional repression or activation through direct DNA binding at target gene promoters Pharmacological inhibition (using antisense oligonucleotides) to suppress expression, used experimentally to reduce cyst formation in PKD mouse models[6]