Alternative titles; symbols
HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: ZNF239
Cytogenetic location: 10q11.21 Genomic coordinates (GRCh38) : 10:43,556,344-43,574,616 (from NCBI)
MOK2 proteins are DNA- and RNA-binding proteins that are mainly associated with nuclear RNP components, including the nucleoli and extranucleolar structures (Arranz et al., 1997).
By screening a human chronic myeloid leukemia genomic library with a mouse Mok2 fragment, Ernoult-Lange et al. (1995) cloned the human MOK2 gene, which encodes a deduced 458-amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 52 kD. The MOK2 protein contains 10 tandem zinc finger motifs of 28 amino acids each, with 5 additional amino acids at the C terminus and a nonfinger acidic domain of 173 amino acids at the N terminus. Ernoult-Lange et al. (1995) determined that human MOK2 RNA maturation results in 3 mRNAs with different 5-prime untranslated exons and that one of the mRNAs encodes a 361-amino acid protein. Northern blot analysis detected expression of a 2.15-kb transcript in heart, brain, lung, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas, as well as a 2.5-kb transcript in brain. The highest levels of expression were found in brain, testis, and breast. No expression was found in placenta or liver.
Ernoult-Lange et al. (1995) determined that the MOK2 gene has a large open reading frame with 3 in-frame methionines at the 5-prime end.
By electron microscopy, Arranz et al. (1997) determined that the MOK2 protein is mainly associated with nuclear ribonucleoprotein components, including the nucleoli and extranucleolar structures. Arranz et al. (1997) found that MOK2 exhibits specific RNA homopolymer binding activities and also recognizes an 18-bp specific DNA-binding sequence. The DNA-binding domain was localized in the 7 adjacent zinc finger motifs. Arranz et al. (1997) identified the MOK2 DNA-binding sequence in intron 2 of the IRBP gene (180290) and in intron 7 of the PAX3 gene (606597). Arranz et al. (1997) suggested that MOK2 plays a role in transcription as well as in the posttranscriptional regulation processes of specific genes.
By in situ hybridization, Arranz et al. (1996) mapped the human MOK2 gene to chromosome 19q13.2-q13.3 and the mouse homolog to chromosome 6. Southern analysis indicated that the murine and human genes are present in single copy in the genome. Arranz et al. (1996) stated that no chromosomal homology of synteny had previously been demonstrated between human chromosome 19 and mouse chromosome 6.
The International Radiation Hybrid Mapping Consortium mapped the ZNF239 gene to chromosome 10 (RH79937). This mapping is consistent with the homology of synteny observed between human chromosome 10 and mouse chromosome 6.
Arranz, V., Harper, F., Florentin, Y., Puvion, E., Kress, M., Ernoult-Lange, M. Human and mouse MOK2 proteins are associated with nuclear ribonucleoprotein components and bind specifically to RNA and DNA through their zinc finger domains. Molec. Cell. Biol. 17: 2116-2126, 1997. [PubMed: 9121460] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.17.4.2116]
Arranz, V., Kress, M., Ernoult-Lange, M. Localization of zinc finger Mok2 gene to mouse chromosome 6, a new region of homology with human chromosome 19. Mammalian Genome 7: 77-78, 1996. [PubMed: 8903737] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003359900020]
Ernoult-Lange, M., Arranz, V., Le Conait, M., Berger, R., Kress, M. Human and mouse Kruppel-like (MOK2) orthologue genes encode two different zinc finger proteins. J. Molec. Evol. 41: 784-794, 1995. [PubMed: 8587123] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00173158]