Zinc Finger Protein 238 (ZNF238)

ZNF238 contains an N-terminal POZ domain, a unique central region, and a C-terminal domain containing 4 C2H2-type zinc finger domains. Sequence analysis revealed an N-terminal nuclear localization signal. Northern blot analysis detected a major 4.3-kb transcript and a minor 9.0-kb transcript in lymphoid tissues, testis, heart, brain, skeletal muscle, and pancreas, with much lower levels in other tissues. A faint 7.0-kb transcript was found in brain only. Western blot analysis detected ZNF238 proteins at apparent molecular masses of 60 and 48 kD, with several hundred-fold higher expression in brain than in any other tissue examined. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that ZNF238 localized in a punctate nuclear staining pattern, and immunogold cytochemistry found ZNF238 distributed in electron-dense chromatin.