Zinc Finger Protein 642 (ZNF642)

ZNF642 is associated with obesity-linked type 2 diabetes and could help predict risk of or treat the disease. Zfp69 is a member of the subfamily of zinc finger transcription factors that comprise a N-terminal KRAB and a zinc finger binding C2H2 domain. Zfp69 encodes a transcription factor in mice which appears to interfere with lipid storage in adipose tissue, and thereby enhances lipid deposition in liver. In humans with type 2 diabetes, mRNA levels of the human orthologue of Zfp69 (ZNF642) were increased in adipose tissue and ZNF642 was found to be particularly active in overweight people with diabetes. Thus, the transcription factor ZFP69/ZNF642 may be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated diabetes and might be a particularly valuable target for developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to combat diabetes.