AT-hook-containing transcription factor ( AKNA, KIAA1968)

Function

• transcription factor
• specifically activates expression of CD40 receptor & its ligand CD40L/CD154, 2 cell surface molecules on lymphocytes that are critical for antigen-dependent-B-cell development
• binds to A/T-rich promoters

Structure

contains 1 A.T hook DNA-binding domain

Compartment

nucleus

Alternative splicing

named isoforms=8

Expression

• predominantly expressed by lymphoid tissues
• highly expressed in the spleen, lymph nodes & peripheral blood leukocytes
• expressed at lower level in thymus
• mainly expressed by germinal center B-lymphocytes, a stage in which receptor & ligand interactions are crucial for B-lymphocyte maturation
• expressed by B- & T-lymphocytes, natural killer cells & CD1a(+)CD14(-) but not CD1a(-)CD14(+) dendritic cells
• weakly or not expressed in fetal liver & in adult bone marrow

More general terms

• transcription factor (TF)
• DNA-binding protein
• phosphoprotein

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/605729
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q7Z591.html