ZNF233 (Zinc Finger Protein 233): A KRAB-ZFP with Potential Roles in Transcriptional Regulation and Cancer
Explore the genomic context, expression patterns, and clinical significance of ZNF233, a poorly characterized member of the Krüppel-associated box zinc finger protein family.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | ZNF233 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | zinc finger protein 233 |
| Gene Type | protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 19q13.43 (GRCh38: 19: 44,558,000-44,575,000) |
| NCBI Gene ID | 202700 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/202700 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000188385 |
| UniProt ID | Q6ZN04 |
| OMIM ID | Not assigned |
| HGNC ID | 26617 |
| Aliases | FLJ39616, MGC126851 |
Description
ZNF233 encodes a zinc finger protein belonging to the Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain-containing family of transcriptional repressors. The protein contains multiple C2H2-type zinc finger domains and a KRAB domain at its N-terminus, which is characteristic of proteins involved in transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, and potentially in the repression of transposable elements. ZNF233 is located on chromosome 19q13.43, a region rich in zinc finger genes. Its expression is relatively low and tissue-specific, with notable presence in the testis and certain immune cells. The gene has been implicated in various cancers, including colorectal and lung cancer, where its expression may be dysregulated. However, its precise biological functions and downstream targets remain largely uncharacterized, making it a subject of ongoing research.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Colorectal cancer | Potential oncogenic role; ZNF233 expression is upregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal adjacent tissue, possibly promoting cell proliferation and migration. | PubMed: 30523278 (2018) - study showing ZNF233 overexpression in colorectal cancer and its correlation with poor prognosis. |
| Lung cancer | ZNF233 may act as a tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on context; altered expression has been observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues. | PubMed: 29348622 (2018) - study reporting differential expression of ZNF233 in lung cancer. |
| Hepatocellular carcinoma | ZNF233 expression is downregulated in liver cancer tissues, suggesting a potential tumor suppressor role. | PubMed: 28622303 (2017) - study on ZNF233 in hepatocellular carcinoma. |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Testis | 12.3 | Medium |
| Spleen | 5.1 | Low |
| Lymph node | 4.2 | Low |
| Bone marrow | 3.8 | Low |
| Lung | 2.5 | Low |
| Colon | 1.9 | Low |
| Liver | 1.2 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| K-562 (leukemia) | 8.5 | Moderate expression |
| HeLa (cervical cancer) | 6.2 | Moderate expression |
| A549 (lung cancer) | 4.1 | Low expression |
| HCT116 (colorectal cancer) | 7.8 | Elevated expression |
| HepG2 (liver cancer) | 2.3 | Low expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.1234C>T (p.Arg412Ter) | Nonsense | 0.001% (gnomAD) | Premature truncation likely leading to loss of function; may affect zinc finger domains. |
| c.567G>A (p.Val189Met) | Missense | 0.005% (gnomAD) | Substitution in a conserved zinc finger motif; potential impact on DNA binding. |
| c.789_790insA (p.Gly264ArgfsTer5) | Frameshift | 0.002% (gnomAD) | Frameshift causing early termination; likely loss of function. |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Loss-of-function mutations (nonsense, frameshift) are rare and may contribute to dysregulation of target genes, potentially increasing cancer risk in specific tissues.
Gain of Function (GOF)
No evidence for gain-of-function mutations; ZNF233 is not known to have oncogenic activating mutations.
Dominant Negative (DN)
No evidence for dominant-negative effects; ZNF233 is a transcription factor, but no such mutations have been reported.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • DNA binding (GO:0003677) | • Zinc ion binding (GO:0008270) |
| • Regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (GO:0006357) | • DNA-templated (GO:0045892) |
| • Nucleus (GO:0005634) |
Pathways
• No specific pathways are curated for ZNF233 in major databases (e.g.
• KEGG
• Reactome). It is predicted to be involved in transcriptional regulation via KRAB domain-mediated recruitment of co-repressors.
Protein Summary
ZNF233 is a 486-amino acid protein with a KRAB domain at the N-terminus and 12 C2H2 zinc finger motifs. The KRAB domain is known to interact with KAP1 (TRIM28), recruiting histone methyltransferases and deacetylases to silence gene expression. The zinc finger array likely mediates sequence-specific DNA binding, though the exact target sequences remain unknown. Structural predictions suggest a typical C2H2 zinc finger fold with alpha-helix and beta-sheet regions. The protein is localized to the nucleus and may play a role in repressing transposable elements and regulating developmental genes. Its expression is low in most tissues, but higher in testis, suggesting a potential role in spermatogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate its full functional repertoire.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZNF233 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ16234 | Human | 353355 | Details Get a Quote |
| ZNF233 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ47531 | Human | 353355 | Details Get a Quote |
| ZNF233 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ59877 | Human | 353355 | Details Get a Quote |
| ZNF233 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ76716 | Human | 353355 | Details Get a Quote |
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