Transcription Factor AP2 Delta (TFAP2d)

From large scale sequencing of a human fetal brain cDNA library, Cheng et al. (2002) identified a novel cDNA encoding transcription factor AP2-delta. The deduced 452-amino acid TFAP2D protein has a molecular mass of 49.6 kD. It shares homology with the transcription factor AP2 family of genes, especially within the C-terminal region, which contains the DNA-binding domain and homodimerization domain of AP2. RT-PCR indicated that the TFAP2D gene is highly expressed in brain, placenta, skeletal muscle, thymus, small intestine, and prostate. Low expression was detected in leukocytes, spleen, ovary, and colon, and almost no expression was observed in heart, kidney, liver, lung, and pancreas.TFAP2D gene contains 8 exons and spans approximately 60 kb of genomic DNA.