Zinc Finger Protein 492 (ZNF492)

A KRAB–zinc finger protein–ZNF492 is identified by its interaction with immobilized Rpe65 promoter DNA sequence. Comparison of the cDNA sequence with the human genomic sequence identified the translation start side and the open reading frame of 531 amino acids for this protein, named ZNF492. It has a truncated N–terminus and consequently lacks the usual Kruppel–associated box–A (KRAB–A), while KRAB–B remains intact. Twelve C2H2 zinc–fingers are also found in tandem arrangement from amino acid 143 to 531. The transcriptional activity of ZNF492 was assessed using a series of mouse Rpe65 gene promoter/luciferase reporter constructs. ZNF492 expression activates construct TR2, containing 188 bp 5’ flanking sequence, by 2.5 fold. For longer promoter constructs, TR4 (655 bp) and TR5 (1240 bp), ZNF492 also confers an activation of about 2 fold.