Molecular Mechanisms of Zinc Finger Proteins in Biological Processes and Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are ubiquitous in biology, playing a pivotal role in mediating interactions with DNA, RNA, and other proteins. These proteins are crucial for transcriptional regulation, ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, signal transduction, DNA repair, cell migration, and a broad array of other biological processes.

ZFPs exhibit diverse zinc finger motifs for specific interactions. Cys2His2, the most abundant type, is found in 700+ human proteins, serving as transcription factors. CTCF, a chromatin regulator, has 11 conserved zinc fingers for gene expression control.

ZFPs combine with other domains, enhancing complexity and functions. These domains include Krüppel-associated box (KRAB), SCAN, the zinc finger-associated domain (ZAD), etc. PRDM (Positive Regulatory Domain) proteins, with a PR domain and zinc fingers, modulate gene expression by chromatin modification, involved in proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle, stemness, and immune cell homeostasis. Remarkably, given this wide range of functions, their disruption may contribute to the onset and progression of several human diseases. Similarly, other ZFPs, such as GATA family proteins, nuclear receptors, etc., have been established to play a pathophysiological role in humans.

We invite authors to submit research and reviews on ZFP transcriptional regulation in development, cell homeostasis, and diseases, providing insights across biological systems.

Dr. Amelia Casamassimi
Dr. Patrizia Gazzerro
Guest Editors

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• zinc finger domain
• CTCF
• PRDM family
• nuclear receptors
• human diseases
• transcriptional regulation
• epigenetic modifications