Mortality Factor 4 Like Protein 1 (MORF4L1)

The protein contains an N-terminal chromodomain, a bipartite nuclear localization signal, a helix-loop-helix domain, a region showing similarity to Drosophila Msl3, and a C-terminal leucine zipper motif. It also has a putative cAMP phosphorylation site, a protein kinase C phosphorylation site, and a tyrosine phosphorylation site. Northern blot analysis of multiple tissues revealed ubiquitous expression of a 1.8-kb transcript and, at lower levels, a 1.4-kb transcript. Zoo blot analysis revealed conservation of MRG15 from chicken to human. Transient transfection of HeLa cells with fluorescence-tagged MRG15 resulted in nuclear localization.Overexpression of MRG15 in HeLa cells ultimately caused abnormal nuclear morphology and cell death.expression of MRG15 declined slightly in normal senescent fibroblasts and increased following serum stimulation.