转录因子ZBTB家族是一类在N末端含有BTB结构域和在C末端含有多个锌指结构域的蛋白质。近年来,肿瘤基因组学的研究发现,编码该家族成员的多个基因在某些肿瘤中发生较高程度的突变、缺失或(和)扩增,这提示着ZBTB蛋白转录功能的紊乱可能与肿瘤的发生、发展相关。综述了ZBTB家族蛋白功能研究的最新进展,着重介绍了若干ZBTB蛋白与基因组稳定性的关系。
Transcription factors ZBTB (zinc finger and BTB domain) family members are characterized by a BTB domain at its amino terminus and multiple zinc fingers at its carboxyl terminus. It has been uncovered recently that many of the genes encoding 49 ZBTB members in a variety of cancer types are present with certain degrees of mutation, deletion, and/or amplification, indicating that functional disorder of the ZBTB transcription factors may lead to genome instability and subsequent tumorigenesis. This review summarizes the recent progress in understanding ZBTB function and in particular, its potential role in the maintenance of genome stability.