Adipocyte Enhancer-Binding Protein is a

zinc finger A zinc finger is a small protein structural motif that is characterized by the coordination of one or more zinc ions (Zn2+) in order to stabilize the fold. It was originally coined to describe the finger-like appearance of a hypothesized struct ...

protein that in humans is encoded by the evolutionarily well-conserved

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...

AEBP2. It was initially identified due to its binding capability to the promoter of the adipocyte P2 gene, and was therefore named Adipocyte Enhancer Binding Protein 2. AEBP2 is a potential targeting protein for the mammalian Polycomb Repression Complex 2 (PRC2).

Function

AEBP2 is a DNA-binding transcriptional

repressor In molecular genetics, a repressor is a DNA- or RNA-binding protein that inhibits the expression of one or more genes by binding to the operator or associated silencers. A DNA-binding repressor blocks the attachment of RNA polymerase to the ...

. It may interact with and stimulate the activity of the PRC2 complex. AEBP2 may regulate the migration and development of the

neural crest Neural crest cells are a temporary group of cells unique to vertebrates that arise from the embryonic ectoderm germ layer, and in turn give rise to a diverse cell lineage—including melanocytes, craniofacial cartilage and bone, smooth muscle, per ...

cells through the PRC2-mediated epigenetic mechanism and is most likely a targeting protein for the mammalian PRC2 complex.

Clinical significance

Diseases associated with AEBP2 include

Waardenburg's syndrome Waardenburg syndrome is a group of rare genetic conditions characterised by at least some degree of congenital hearing loss and pigmentation deficiencies, which can include bright blue eyes (or Heterochromia iridum, one blue eye and one brown ey ...

, and

Hirschsprung's disease Hirschsprung's disease (HD or HSCR) is a birth defect in which nerves are missing from parts of the intestine. The most prominent symptom is constipation. Other symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and slow growth. Symptoms usu ...

References

External links

* {{protein-stub