Page 7 - GPD-3-3

Gene & Protein in Disease

REVIEW ARTICLE
Zinc finger protein 521 (ZNF521/Zfp521):

Insights into its structure, function, regulation,
and significance to cell differentiation

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Jiali Li 1,2† , Yanbing Pan 1,2† , Mengjie Tu , Jiayang Han , Binbin Zhao ,
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Jialin Wu , Guangchao Liu , Kaifeng Zhang , Man Yue , Mengwen Hou ,
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Tiantian Sun , Xu Han , Kangxu Chen , and Yang An *
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1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan
University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
2 Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor
Molecular Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
Abstract
The zinc finger protein 521 (ZNF521) gene is located on human chromosome
18, specifically in the 18q11.2 region. As a zinc finger DNA-binding protein,
ZNF521/Zfp521 acts as a transcription cofactor involved in the regulation of
cell differentiation across various cell types, including hematopoietic, neural,
and mesenchyme stem cells, B progenitor cells, preadipocytes, and osteoblasts.
Its interactions with key proteins such as RUNX2, EBF1, SIAH2, or BMP2 further
modulate these processes. In this review, we briefly summarize the current
understanding of ZNF521/Zfp521, encompassing its structural, functional, post-
† These authors contributed equally translational modification, and cellular signaling pathways, especially its roles in
to this work.
cell differentiation and related diseases. In addition, we explore the process and
*Corresponding author: effects of the interaction between Zfp521 and other proteins and discuss the
Yang An
(anyang@henu.edu.cn) molecular mechanisms of its roles in adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic, and
neural differentiation.
Citation: Li J, Pan Y, Tu M,
et al. Zinc finger protein 521
(ZNF521/Zfp521): Insights into its
structure, function, regulation, and Keywords: ZNF521; Zfp521; Cell differentiation; Post-translational modification
significance to cell differentiation.
Gene Protein Dis. 2024;3(3):3260.
doi: 10.36922/gpd.3260
Received: March 25, 2024 1. Introduction
Accepted: May 8, 2024
Published Online: July 2, 2024 Human zinc finger protein 521 (ZNF521) and mouse zinc finger protein 521 (Zfp521)
consist of 1131 amino acid factors and are characterized by the 30 zinc fingers distributed
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article in clusters. A 13-amino acid motif is located at the amino terminus of ZNF521/Zfp521,
distributed under the terms of the which binds to the nuclear remodeling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) complex,
Creative Commons Attribution thereby exerting its epigenetic regulation effects through this complex-mediated
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, remodeling of the nucleus. The interaction between ZNF521/Zfp521 and other proteins
provided the original work is plays crucial roles in normal developmental processes. Zfp521 accelerates osteogenesis
properly cited. while restraining adipogenesis through a complex network of physical and functional
Publisher’s Note: AccScience interactions with Zfp423, Ebf1, and RUNX2. In addition, Zfp521 is not only involved in
Publishing remains neutral with repressing erythroid differentiation in leukemia cell lines but is also a proto-oncogene of
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional B cells. Given these findings, Zfp521 can be used as a diagnostic marker or therapeutic
affiliations. target for leukemia.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/gpd.3260