POU domain, class 4, transcription factor 2 is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''POU4F2''
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 ...
.
Function
POU4F2 is a member of the
POU-domain family
POU (pronounced 'pow') is a family of proteins that have well-conserved homeodomains.
Etymology
The acronym POU is derived from the names of three transcription
factors:
* the Pituitary-specific Pit-1
* the Octamer transcription factor protei ...
of transcription factors. POU-domain proteins have been observed to play important roles in control of cell identity in several systems. A
class IV POU-domain protein, POU4F2 is found in human retina exclusively within a subpopulation of
ganglion cell
{{stack,
A ganglion cell is a cell found in a ganglion. Examples of ganglion cells include:
* Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) found in the ganglion cell layer of the retina
* Cells that reside in the adrenal medulla, where they are involved in the ...
s where it may play a role in determining or maintaining the identities of a small subset of
visual system
The visual system comprises the sensory organ (the eye) and parts of the central nervous system (the retina containing photoreceptor cells, the optic nerve, the optic tract and the visual cortex) which gives organisms the sense of sight (the a ...
neuron
A neuron, neurone, or nerve cell is an electrically excitable cell that communicates with other cells via specialized connections called synapses. The neuron is the main component of nervous tissue in all animals except sponges and placozoa. N ...
s.
upplied by OMIMref name="entrez" />
Interactions
POU4F2 has been shown to
interact
Advocates for Informed Choice, dba interACT or interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using innovative strategies to advocate for the legal and human rights of children with intersex traits. The organizati ...
with
Estrogen receptor alpha
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERĪ±), also known as NR3A1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group A, member 1), is one of two main types of estrogen receptor, a nuclear receptor (mainly found as a chromatin-binding protein)
that is activated by the sex ...
.
See also
*
BRN-3
References
Further reading
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External links
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POU-domain proteins
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