Zinc Finger, CCHC Domain Containing Protein 12 (ZCCHC12)

The 402-amino acid Zcchc12 protein contains an N-terminal paraneoplastic antigen (MA)-like region, a C2HC-type zinc finger motif, and a putative nuclear localization signal. Northern blot analysis detected restricted expression of Zcchc12 in the ventral forebrain (including septum, amygdala, putamen, thalamus, and hypothalamus) of E11.5-E12.5 mice, and predominant expression in the brain and lower expression in the testis of adult mice.Zcchc12 protein binds directly to Smad1. Zcchc12 functions as a transcriptional coactivator necessary for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-dependent, cholinergic-neuron-specific gene expression.