ZIC1: Proteins and Enzymes

ZIC1 (zinc-finger protein of the cerebellum 1) is a 54 - 60 kDa member of the GLI C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family. It is expressed in embryonic sclerotome and dermomyotome and in postmitotic cerebellar granule cells and retinal ganglion cells. ZIC1 is a transcription factor that promotes ApoE expression and blocks activation of Math1, allowing for neuroblast multiplication at the expense of differentiation. Human ZIC1 is 447 amino acids (aa) in length. It contains N-terminal poly-Ala and -His segments, followed by five C2H2-type Zn-fingers. Although the first two are atypical (aa 225 - 296), the last three Zn-fingers (aa 302 - 384) are canonical and bind to GLI1, 2 and 3. There is one potential alternate start site at Met353. Over aa 1 - 198, human ZIC1 is 99% aa identical to mouse ZIC1.