The protein encoded by this gene is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor that lacks a transactivation domain. It is known to bind the US-2 DNA element in the promoter of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) gene and most likely heterodimerizes with other leucine zipper-containing proteins to enhance expression of the OTR gene during term pregnancy. The encoded protein can also form homodimers, and since it lacks a transactivation domain, the homodimer may act as a repressor of transcription. This gene may also be involved in the cellular stress response. Multiple transcript variants encoding two different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2009]
Function:
Interacts with the upstream promoter region of the oxytocin receptor gene. May be a transcriptional enhancer in the up-regulation of the oxytocin receptor gene at parturition. Since it lacks a putative transactivation domain, it may behave as a transcriptional repressor when it dimerize among himself. May also serve as a transcriptional activator by dimerizing with other (usually larger) basic-zipper proteins and recruiting them to specific DNA-binding sites. May be involved in the cellular stress response.
Subcellular Location:
Nucleus.
Tissue Specificity:
Expressed in the term myometrium and kidney.
Similarity:
Belongs to the bZIP family. Maf subfamily.
Contains 1 bZIP domain.
SWISS:
Q9ULX9
Gene ID:
23764
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 23764 Human
Entrez Gene: 17133 Mouse
Omim: 604877 Human
SwissProt: Q9ULX9 Human
SwissProt: O54791 Mouse
Unigene: 517617 Human
Unigene: 86646 Mouse
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