Zinc Finger, BED-Type Containing Protein 6 (ZBED6)

Zbed6 contains 2 BED-type zinc finger domains in its N-terminal half, and a hATC dimerization domain, which are characteristic of DNA transposons, at its C terminus. It also contains a bipartite nuclear localization signal and a putative nucleolar localization signal. The 2 BED domains show near 100% amino acid identity across 26 placental mammal species. Real-time PCR detected highest expression in mouse skeletal muscle, brain, and ovary. In mouse skeletal muscle, highest expression was detected at postnatal weeks 1 and 2. Immunohistochemical analysis of postnatal mouse muscle and brain, and C2C12 mouse myoblasts revealed localization in nucleoli, with some dispersed staining throughout the nucleus. ZBED6 has the characteristics of a domesticated transposon that has lost its ability to transpose.