POU4F2

Description

The POU4F2 (POU class 4 homeobox 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 4.

POU domain, class 4, transcription factor 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the POU4F2 gene.

== Function == POU4F2 is a member of the POU-domain family of transcription factors. POU-domain proteins have been observed to play important roles in control of cell identity in several systems. A class IV POU-domain protein, POU4F2 is found in human retina exclusively within a subpopulation of ganglion cells where it may play a role in determining or maintaining the identities of a small subset of visual system neurons.[supplied by OMIM]

== Interactions == POU4F2 has been shown to interact with Estrogen receptor alpha.

== See also == BRN-3

== References ==

== Further reading ==

== External links == POU4F2+protein,+human at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.

POU4F2 is a tissue-specific DNA-binding transcription factor crucial for the development and differentiation of target cells. It can function as an activator or a repressor, modulating the transcription rate of target genes through RNA polymerase II in a promoter-dependent manner. POU4F2 binds to the consensus octamer motif 5'-AT[A/T]A[T/A]T[A/T]A-3' within the promoters of its target genes. It plays a vital role in the gene regulatory network essential for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation. POU4F2 forms a ternary complex with ISL1 by binding to an octamer site, and it cooperates positively with ISL1 and ISL2 to enhance transcriptional activation of RGC target genes. This cooperation contributes to RGC fate commitment during retinal development, as well as RGC axon formation and pathfinding. POU4F2 inhibits the transcriptional activities of DLX1 and DLX2, preventing them from promoting amacrine cell fate specification. In collaboration with TP53, POU4F2 potentiates the transcriptional activation of the BAX promoter, leading to increased neuronal cell apoptosis. However, in the absence of TP53, POU4F2 negatively regulates BAX promoter activity. It acts as a transcriptional coactivator through its interaction with the transcription factor ESR1, enhancing ESR1's effect on estrogen response element (ERE)-containing promoters. POU4F2 antagonizes the transcriptional stimulatory activity of POU4F1 by preventing its binding to an octamer motif. POU4F2 is also involved in TNFSF11-mediated terminal osteoclast differentiation.

POU4F2 is also known as BRN3.2, BRN3B, Brn-3b.

Associated Diseases

WES Whole Exome Sequencing