In a screen for RNA binding proteins expressed during murine spermatogenesis, Meagher et al. (1999) cloned a novel, ancient zinc finger protein possessing a region common to a small class of RNA binding proteins. Zfr (zinc finger RNA binding) encodes a protein of 1052 amino acids with three widely spaced Cys2His2 zinc fingers. Outside of the zinc fingers, ZFR shares a region that is highly conserved between several RNA binding proteins containing copies of the double-stranded RNA binding motif. ZFR appears to be an ancient protein, as an apparent homologs exist in invertebrates (D. melanogaster) nematodes (C. elegans) and humans (H. sapiens).
General function
Cell proliferation
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Cellular localization
Nuclear
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Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Granulosa
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By northern blotting, Meagher et al. (1999) showed that Zfr is expressed at highest levels within the testis, ovary and brain. Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to show that ZFR is highly expressed in the testis and in ovarian granulosa cells where it is localized to the nucleus.