ZIC5
Description
The ZIC5 (Zic family member 5) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 13.
ZIC5 belongs to the Zinc finger of the cerebellum (ZIC) protein family and is located on chromosome 13. It shares regulatory elements and expression patterns with its closely related gene, ZIC2. ZIC5's five C2H2 zinc fingers enable it to bind to DNA and regulate transcription. Like other ZIC family members, it interacts with TCF proteins to inhibit canonical Wnt signaling. While ZIC5 mutations haven't been linked to human congenital defects, Zic5 loss in mice results in various developmental issues, including neural crest and neural tube defects, hydrocephaly, and skeletal abnormalities. These findings suggest ZIC5 plays a vital role in early development. Xenopus experiments also support ZIC5's function in neural crest formation. Recent research revealed that ZIC5 is regulated by SUMOylation, a post-translational modification, which alters its DNA and protein binding properties to promote neural crest specification. Interestingly, other genes involved in neural crest specification, such as Pax6, Sox9, and Sox10, are also regulated by SUMOylation, highlighting its potential widespread role in neural crest development.
ZIC5 is also known as -.
