Zinc Finger Protein 280B (ZNF280B)

ZNF280B was identified by homology to other species. Its encoded protein is approximately 78-88% identical to a predicted sheep protein of unknown function. The protein is also approximately 25% identical to the Drosophila protein suppressor of hairy wing, which is a leucine zipper protein that represses the function of transcriptional enhancers of the gypsy retrotransposon. ZNF279 is a 543 amino acid nuclear protein that contains four C2H2-type zinc fingers and may function as a transcription factor. ZNF279 is encoded by a gene located on human chromosome 22, which houses over 500 genes and is the second smallest human chromosome. Mutations in several of the genes that map to chromosome 22 are involved in the development of Phelan-McDermid syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 2, autism and schizophrenia.