D4, Zinc And Double PHD Fingers Family 1 (DPF1)

DPF1 is a member of the d4 domain family, characterized by a zinc finger-like structural motif. This protein functions as a transcription factor which is necessary for the apoptotic response following deprivation of survival factors. It likely serves a regulatory role in rapid hematopoietic cell growth and turnover. Chestkov et al. (1996) described human DPF1, which they called Neuro-D4, a conserved gene encoding a 353-amino acid neural-specific zinc finger protein. A cysteine- and histidine-rich region of the C terminus distinguishes members of the D4 family, including Neuro-D4, from other zinc finger proteins. The human and rat Neuro-D4 cDNAs are 93% identical, and there are only 3 amino acid differences between the proteins. Different alternatively spliced cDNAs were observed.