GLI-similar (Glis) 1-3 proteins constitute a subfamily of the Krüppel-like zinc finger transcription factors that are closely related to the Gli family. They play key roles in the regulation of a number of physiological processes and have been implicated in several pathologies. Glis1-3 share a highly homologous zinc finger domain (ZFD) containing five Cys2-His2-type zinc finger (ZF) motifs with members of the Gli and Zic family [].In mammals, Glis2 is a transcription factor with both transactivation and repressor functions, which may play an important role in the regulation of gene expression during embryonic development []. It can repress transcription through interaction with C-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1) []. It can also represses T-cell factor (TCF)-mediated transcriptional activation and function as a negative modulator of the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway []. Glis2 also binds to p120 catenin (p120), an armadillo-domain proteins found at cell-cell junctions, and their interaction induces the proteolytic cleavage of Glis2 []. Glis2 is necessary to inhibit Hedgehog signalling and to maintain the mature tubular epithelial phenotype in the adult kidney [].This entry also includes Glis2 from Xenopus, also known as NKL (neuronal Kruppel-like protein), which is expressed in Xenopus primary neurons and is a positive regulator of neuronal differentiation [].
