Zinc Finger, Matrin Type Protein 3 (ZMAT3)

ZMAT3 encodes a protein containing three zinc finger domains and a nuclear localization signal. The mRNA and the protein of this gene are upregulated by wildtype p53 and overexpression of this gene inhibits tumor cell growth, suggesting that this gene may have a role in the p53-dependent growth regulatory pathway. Alternative splicing of this gene results in two transcript variants encoding two isoforms differing in only one amino acid.The 288-amino acid protein is 87% identical to the mouse protein and contains 3 zinc finger domains and a putative nuclear localization signal. WIG1 mRNA and 32-kD protein were induced following activation of wildtype p53 expression in a Burkitt lymphoma cell line. The induction occurred also in MCF7 cells following treatment with the DNA-damaging agent mitomycin C.