KLF7 Gene – Structure, Function, and Disease Associations | NCBI, UniProt, OMIM

KLF7 (Krüppel-like factor 7) encodes a member of the Krüppel-like family of zinc-finger transcription factors. The protein contains three C2H2-type zinc fingers at the C-terminus and a transactivation domain at the N-terminus. KLF7 is ubiquitously expressed, with highest levels in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and brain. It regulates genes involved in cell cycle, differentiation, and metabolism, particularly in neurons and adipocytes. KLF7 has been associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity, neurodevelopmental disorders, and various cancers.

Tissue Expression

Cell Line Expression

Hotspot Mutations

Mutation functional classification

• Adipogenesis – regulation of PPARG and CEBPA

• Neurotrophin signaling – KLF7 promotes NGF-induced neurite outgrowth

• Cell cycle – KLF7 modulates CDKN1A (p21) expression

• MAPK signaling – KLF7 is phosphorylated by ERK1/2

KLF7 is a 302-amino acid transcription factor with three C-terminal C2H2 zinc fingers that mediate sequence-specific DNA binding to GC-rich elements. The N-terminal domain contains a transactivation region rich in proline and serine residues. KLF7 is ubiquitously expressed and shuttles between cytoplasm and nucleus. It regulates genes involved in cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and metabolism. Post-translational modifications include phosphorylation and acetylation, which modulate its activity. Structural studies show that the zinc-finger domain adopts a canonical ββα fold.