ZFP42 Gene - Structure, Function, and Clinical Significance | NCBI, UniProt, OMIM

ZFP42 (Zinc Finger Protein 42), also known as REX1, is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in maintaining the pluripotent state of embryonic stem cells. It is a downstream target of the core pluripotency network (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG) and is frequently used as a marker for undifferentiated stem cells. ZFP42 expression is rapidly downregulated upon differentiation. The gene encodes a protein containing four C2H2-type zinc finger domains that bind DNA and regulate target genes involved in cell cycle, chromatin remodeling, and lineage commitment. ZFP42 is also implicated in cancer, where its expression is often altered in germ cell tumors and other malignancies.

Tissue Expression

Cell Line Expression

Hotspot Mutations

Mutation functional classification

• Pluripotency network (OCT4

• SOX2

• NANOG

• ZFP42)

• Transcriptional regulation of stem cell differentiation

The ZFP42 protein (REX1) is a 42 kDa transcription factor with four C2H2-type zinc finger domains. It localizes to the nucleus and binds specific DNA sequences to regulate genes involved in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. ZFP42 is a direct target of OCT4 and NANOG and acts in a feedback loop to maintain pluripotency. The protein is rapidly degraded upon differentiation signals. Structural studies indicate that the zinc finger domains are essential for DNA binding and transcriptional activity.