This gene encodes a
transcription factor that belongs to the cap'n'collar type of basic region
leucine zipper factor family (CNC-bZip). The encoded protein contains
broad complex, tramtrack, bric-a-brac/poxvirus and zinc finger (BTB/POZ) domains, which is atypical of CNC-bZip family members. These
BTB/POZ domains facilitate protein-protein interactions and formation of homo- and/or hetero-oligomers. The
C-terminus of the protein is a leucine zipper of the
bzip_maf family. When this protein forms a heterodimer with
MafK, it functions as a repressor of Maf recognition element (MARE) and transcription is repressed. Multiple
alternatively spliced transcript variants have been identified for this gene. Some
exons of this gene overlap with some exons from the
GRIK1-AS2 gene, which is transcribed in an opposite orientation to this gene but does not encode a protein. == See also ==