Zinc Finger Protein 444 (ZNF444)

ZNF444 has a domain structure and amino acid sequence similar to several zinc finger transcription factors, such as Kruppel-like ZNF191. Using the IR3 motif of the SCARF1 5-prime flanking region in a 1-hybrid system, Adachi and Tsujimoto (2002) cloned ZNF444, which they designated EZF2, from a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cDNA library. The deduced 270-amino acid protein contains a leucine-rich region/SCAN domain, which likely mediates homo- or heterooligomerization, and a C2H2-type zinc finger domain.Adachi and Tsujimoto (2002) determined that ZNF444 binds to the promoter region of SCARF1 immediately upstream of an SP1-binding site. Overexpression of ZNF444 in HUVECs increased SCARF1 promoter activity nearly 2.5-fold.