User:Petvyli/GATA transcription factor

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The GATA transcription factor family consists of six proteins (GATA1-6) that regulates transcription of different proteins which can therefore affect different diseases. These six proteins are divided into two subfamilies of GATA1/2/3 and GATA4/5/6 based on differences in differentiation of stem cell tissues. All six proteins are required for differentiating mesoderm derived tissues. The difference is that GATA1/2/3 is required in development and differentiation of ectoderm derived tissues (such as hematopoietic and the central nervous system), while GATA 4/5/6 is for differentiation of endoderm derived tissues (such as embryonic stem cells of the heart and skin. Mutations in the GATA gene leads to problems in the thyroid, ears, kidney, heart, and can cause cancer. GATA can be used as biomarkers in predicting different diseases such as acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) in Down syndrome, colorectal, and breast cancer.

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The Molecular Structure of the GATA Transcription Factor Family

In non-vertebrates, the GATA genes are located close together on the chromosomes. Due to evolution, these genes in humans moved apart and are separated into 6 distinct chromosomal regions. To regulate transcription of proteins, GATA transcription factors look for GATA sites with two conserved zinc finger and supporting long range DNA interactions. In non-vertebrates, GATA transcription factors contain one zinc finger DNA binding domain (ZNI). In humans, GATA transcription factors contain two zinc finger DNA binding domains (ZNI and ZNII) which looks for adenine or thymine before the GATA sequence and adenine or guanine after as shown by the schematic: (A/T)GATA(A/G). 70% of the regions in the zinc finger domains are the same while the terminal amino and carboxyl domains can change.