Biology:MAFF (gene)

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Short description: Protein-coding gene


A representation of the 3D structure of the protein myoglobin showing turquoise α-helices.
Generic protein structure example
Structures of the Maf family proteins.

Transcription factor MafF is a bZip Maf transcription factor protein that in humans is encoded by the MAFF gene.[1][2]

MafF is one of the small Maf proteins, which are basic region and leucine zipper (bZIP)-type transcription factors. The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee-approved gene name of MAFF is “v-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog F”.

Discovery

MafF was first cloned and identified in chicken in 1993 as a member of the small Maf (sMaf) genes.[1] MAFF has been identified in many vertebrates, including humans.[2] There are three functionally redundant sMaf proteins in vertebrates, MafF, MafG, and MafK.

Structure

MafF has a bZIP structure that consists of a basic region for DNA binding and a leucine zipper structure for dimer formation.[1] Similar to other sMafs, MafF lacks any canonical transcriptional activation domains.[1]

Expression

MAFF is broadly but differentially expressed in various tissues. MAFF expression was detected in all 16 tissues examined by the human BodyMap Project, but relatively abundant in adipose, colon, lung, prostate and skeletal muscle tissues.[3] Human MAFF gene is induced by proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor in myometrial cells.[4]

Function

Because of sequence similarity, no functional differences have been observed among the sMafs in terms of their bZIP structures. sMafs form homodimers by themselves and heterodimers with other specific bZIP transcription factors, such as CNC (cap 'n' collar) proteins [p45 NF-E2 (NFE2), Nrf1 (NFE2L1), Nrf2 (NFE2L2), and Nrf3 (NFE2L3)][5][6][7][8] and Bach proteins (BACH1 and BACH2).[9]

Target genes

sMafs regulate different target genes depending on their partners. For instance, the p45-NF-E2-sMaf heterodimer regulate genes responsible for platelet production.[5][10][11] Nrf2-sMaf heterodimer regulates a battery of cytoprotective genes, such as antioxidant/xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme genes.[7][12] The Bach1-sMaf heterodimer regulates the heme oxygenase-1 gene.[9] In particular, it has been reported that MafF regulates the oxytocin receptor gene.[13] The contribution of individual sMafs to the transcriptional regulation of their target genes has not yet been well examined.

Disease linkage

Loss of sMafs results in disease-like phenotypes as summarized in table below. Mice lacking MafF are seemingly healthy under laboratory conditions.[14] However, mice lacking MafG exhibit mild neuronal phenotype and mild thrombocytopenia,[15] mice lacking Mafg and one allele of Mafk (Mafg−/−::Mafk+/−) exhibit progressive neuronal degeneration, thrombocytopenia and cataract,[16][17] and mice lacking MafG and MafK (Mafg−/−::Mafk−/−) exhibit more severe neuronal degeneration and die in the perinatal stage.[18] Mice lacking MafF, MafG and MafK are embryonic lethal, demonstrating that MafF is indispensable for embryonic development.[19] Embryonic fibroblasts that are derived from Maff−/−::Mafg-/−::Mafk−/− mice fail to activate Nrf2-dependent cytoprotective genes in response to stress.[12]

Genotype Mouse Phenotype
Maff Mafg Mafk
−/− No apparent phenotype under laboratory conditions [14]
−/− Mild motor ataxia, mild thrombocytopenia [15]
−/− +/− Severe motor ataxia, progressive neuronal degeneration, severe thrombocytopenia, and cataract [16][17]
−/− −/− More severe neuronal phenotypes, and perinatal lethal [18]
−/− +/− −/− No severe abnormality [19] (Fertile)
−/− −/− −/− Growth retardation, fetal liver hypoplasia, and lethal around embryonic day, 13.5 [19]
+/− (heterozygote), −/− (homozygote), blank (wild-type)

In addition, accumulating evidence suggests that as partners of CNC and Bach proteins, sMafs are involved in the onset and progression of various human diseases, including neurodegeneration, arteriosclerosis and cancer.

See also

Notes

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Two new members of the maf oncogene family, mafK and mafF, encode nuclear b-Zip proteins lacking putative trans-activator domain". Oncogene 8 (9): 2371–80. Sep 1993. PMID 8361754. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Entrez Gene: MAFF v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog F (avian)". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=23764. 
  3. "Expression Atlas update--a database of gene and transcript expression from microarray- and sequencing-based functional genomics experiments". Nucleic Acids Research 42 (Database issue): D926-32. Jan 2014. doi:10.1093/nar/gkt1270. PMID 24304889. 
  4. "Regulation of the MAFF transcription factor by proinflammatory cytokines in myometrial cells". Biology of Reproduction 74 (4): 699–705. Apr 2006. doi:10.1095/biolreprod.105.045450. PMID 16371591. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Regulation of transcription by dimerization of erythroid factor NF-E2 p45 with small Maf proteins". Nature 367 (6463): 568–72. Feb 1994. doi:10.1038/367568a0. PMID 8107826. Bibcode1994Natur.367..568I. 
  6. "Interaction of the CNC-bZIP factor TCF11/LCR-F1/Nrf1 with MafG: binding-site selection and regulation of transcription". Nucleic Acids Research 26 (2): 512–20. Jan 1998. doi:10.1093/nar/26.2.512. PMID 9421508. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 "An Nrf2/small Maf heterodimer mediates the induction of phase II detoxifying enzyme genes through antioxidant response elements". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 236 (2): 313–22. Jul 1997. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1997.6943. PMID 9240432. 
  8. "Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a new Cap'n' collar family transcription factor Nrf3". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 274 (10): 6443–52. Mar 1999. doi:10.1074/jbc.274.10.6443. PMID 10037736. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Bach proteins belong to a novel family of BTB-basic leucine zipper transcription factors that interact with MafK and regulate transcription through the NF-E2 site". Molecular and Cellular Biology 16 (11): 6083–95. Nov 1996. doi:10.1128/mcb.16.11.6083. PMID 8887638. 
  10. "Impaired megakaryopoiesis and behavioral defects in mafG-null mutant mice". Genes & Development 12 (14): 2164–74. Jul 1998. doi:10.1101/gad.12.14.2164. PMID 9679061. 
  11. "Transcription factor NF-E2 is required for platelet formation independent of the actions of thrombopoietin/MGDF in megakaryocyte development". Cell 81 (5): 695–704. Jun 1995. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(95)90531-6. PMID 7774011. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Genetic evidence that small maf proteins are essential for the activation of antioxidant response element-dependent genes". Molecular and Cellular Biology 25 (18): 8044–51. Sep 2005. doi:10.1128/MCB.25.18.8044-8051.2005. PMID 16135796. 
  13. "Molecular cloning of a human MafF homologue, which specifically binds to the oxytocin receptor gene in term myometrium". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 264 (1): 86–92. Oct 1999. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1999.1487. PMID 10527846. 
  14. 14.0 14.1 "Characterization of the murine mafF gene". The Journal of Biological Chemistry 274 (30): 21162–9. Jul 1999. doi:10.1074/jbc.274.30.21162. PMID 10409670. 
  15. 15.0 15.1 "Impaired megakaryopoiesis and behavioral defects in mafG-null mutant mice". Genes & Development 12 (14): 2164–74. Jul 1998. doi:10.1101/gad.12.14.2164. PMID 9679061. 
  16. 16.0 16.1 "Small Maf compound mutants display central nervous system neuronal degeneration, aberrant transcription, and Bach protein mislocalization coincident with myoclonus and abnormal startle response". Molecular and Cellular Biology 23 (4): 1163–74. Feb 2003. doi:10.1128/mcb.23.4.1163-1174.2003. PMID 12556477. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Compound mouse mutants of bZIP transcription factors Mafg and Mafk reveal a regulatory network of non-crystallin genes associated with cataract". Human Genetics 134 (7): 717–35. Jul 2015. doi:10.1007/s00439-015-1554-5. PMID 25896808. 
  18. 18.0 18.1 "Perinatal synthetic lethality and hematopoietic defects in compound mafG::mafK mutant mice". The EMBO Journal 19 (6): 1335–45. Mar 2000. doi:10.1093/emboj/19.6.1335. PMID 10716933. 
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Embryonic lethality and fetal liver apoptosis in mice lacking all three small Maf proteins". Molecular and Cellular Biology 32 (4): 808–16. Feb 2012. doi:10.1128/MCB.06543-11. PMID 22158967. 

Further reading

External links