RFXAP : regulatory factor X associated protein
Description
The RFXAP (regulatory factor X associated protein) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 13.
The RFXAP gene provides instructions for making a protein called RFX associated protein (RFXAP). This protein is critical for the production of MHC class II proteins, which are essential for the body's immune response to foreign invaders. RFXAP is part of the RFX complex, which attaches to a specific region of DNA involved in the regulation of MHC class II gene activity. This complex helps turn on MHC class II gene transcription, allowing production of MHC class II proteins. MHC class II proteins are found on the surface of immune cells, where they bind to fragments of proteins from foreign invaders, allowing other immune system cells to recognize and fight them. The RFX complex also appears to play a role in the transcription of MHC class I genes, which provide instructions for making immune system proteins called MHC class I proteins. These proteins also attach to peptides from foreign invaders and present them to specific immune system cells, triggering an immune response. However, the RFX complex is not the primary regulator of MHC class I gene activity; other proteins play a more prominent role in their transcription.
The RFXAP protein is a component of the RFX complex, which binds to the X-box region of MHC II promoters, playing a crucial role in the regulation of MHC class II gene expression.
RFXAP is also known as MHC2D4.
