Zinc Finger Protein 346 (ZNF346)

ZNF346 is a nucleolar, zinc finger protein that preferentially binds to double-stranded (ds) RNA or RNA/DNA hybrids, rather than DNA alone. Mutational studies indicate that the zinc finger domains are not only essential for dsRNA binding, but are also required for its nucleolar localization. The encoded protein may be involved in cell growth and survival.Sequence analysis predicted that the 294-amino acid JAZ protein, which is 89% homologous to the mouse sequence, contains 4 homologous C2H2-type zinc finger domains that are connected by unusually long helix-loop linker sequences beginning with basic residues. Northern blot analysis of multiple mouse tissues detected ubiquitous expression of a 3.6-kb transcript. Gel shift analysis showed that JAZ binds preferentially to dsRNA or RNA/DNA hybrids rather than dsDNA.