MAZ (MYC Associated Zinc Finger Protein)

Myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ), also known as serum amyloid A-activating factor 1 (SAF1), Pur-1 or Zif87, is ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. MAZ is a transcription factor with six Cys2His2-type zinc finger motifs at the carboxylterminus that interact with a permutation of the GGGAGGG sequence motif present in GC-rich promoter regions of target genes, likely through DNA unfolding of G-quadruplex structures to modulate gene expressions. MAZ is also suggested to participate in transcription termination and polyadenylation. Deregulated expression of MAZ is reported to correlate with various tissue malignancies that include the breast, thyroid, hepatocellular and urothelial cancers.