Background
Zinc-finger proteins contain DNA-binding domains and have a wide variety of functions, most of which encompass some form of transcriptional activation or repression. The majority of zinc-finger proteins contain a Krüppel-type DNA binding domain and a KRAB domain, which is thought to interact with KAP1, thereby recruiting histone modifying proteins. ZNF541 (zinc finger protein 541) is a 1,365 amino acid nuclear protein that acts as a component of a chromatin remodeling multiprotein complex involved in spermatogenesis. Existing as three alternatively spliced isoforms, ZNF541 interacts with both HSPA2 and HDAC1, and contains one SANT domain, a ELM2 domain and five C2H2-type zinc fingers. The gene encoding ZNF541 maps to human chromosome 19q13.33. Chromosome 19 consists of over 63 million bases, houses approximately 1,400 genes and is the genetic home for a number of immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily members, a number of ICAMs, the CEACAM and PSG family and Fc receptors (FcRs).