Neural Retina Leucine Zipper (NRL)

The protein neural retina leucine zipper (NRL) is a basic motif-leucine zipper transcription factor that is preferentially expressed in rod photoreceptors. The NRL gene encodes a putative DNA-binding protein of the 'leucine zipper' family with strong similarity to the DNA-binding domain of the MAF oncogene product. The authors suggested that the NRL gene product might play a role in the regulation of retinal development and/or differentiation.

NRL regulates the expression of several rod-specific genes, and missense mutations in the human NRL gene are associated with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. FIZ1 suppressed NRL- but not CRX -mediated transactivation of rhodopsin promoter activity in a transiently transfected monkey kidney cell line.