Zinc Finger CCCH-Type Containing Protein 12A (ZC3H12A)

ZC3H12A is an MCP1 (CCL2)-induced protein that acts as a transcriptional activator and causes cell death of cardiomyocytes, possibly via induction of genes associated with apoptosis.The deduced 599-amino acid protein has a calculated molecular mass of 65.8 kD and contains 2 proline-rich potential activation domains, a monopartite nuclear localization sequence, and a zinc finger motif. ZC3H12A shares 82% amino acid identity with the mouse ortholog. Northern blot analysis detected a 1.8-kb transcript in MCP1-treated monocytes, and fluorescence microscopy showed ZC3H12A expressed in HEK293 cells as localized to the nucleus.ZC3H12A transactivated transcription from a luciferase reporter and induced expression of many apoptotic genes, including BFAR, TNFR2, LTBR, and TNFRSF10C.