RZF, a zinc-finger protein in the photoreceptors of human retina

Hzf, a p53-Responsive Gene, Regulates Maintenance of the G2 Phase Checkpoint Induced by DNA Damage

“…The Hzf protein localizes to the nucleoplasm and contains three typical C2H2-type zinc finger domains that can potentially serve as nucleic acid-binding motifs. However, Rzf, the human orthologue of Hzf, does not bind to single-or double-stranded nucleic acids in vitro and appears not to act as a transcription factor (51). Thus, the biochemical function of the Hzf protein remains unknown.…”

Life or death

“…[30][31][32] The zinc-finger protein Hzf is a target gene of p53 and by interacting with the p53 DBD regulates its target selectivity. 33,34 Hzf promotes p53 binding to the p21 and 14-3-3σ promoters early after DNA damage. Inactivation of Hzf-experimentally or by degradation in response to sustained DNA damage-prevents p53 binding to these promoters and allows relocalization to the response elements in the proapoptotic target genes BAX, PUMA, NOXA and PERP.…”

p53 promoter selection: Choosing between life and death

“…The zinc-finger domains in Hzf are widely spaced with long linker regions connecting the fingers, as a consequence of which it cannot form any stable nucleic acid-protein complexes. 38 Knock-out mice studies found Hzf to be essential for megakaryopoiesis and hemostasis. 39 Hzf was then found to be a p53 target gene involved in cell cycle regulation.…”