Maf transcription factors form a distinct subfamily of the basic leucine zipper (bZip) transcription factors []. Maf genes have been identified in a wide range of higher eukaryotes, including both vertebrate and invertebrate species. These proteins are unique among the bZip factors in that they contain a highly conserved extended homology region (EHR), or ancillary DNA binding region, in addition to a typical basic region, and both regions are involved in target DNA sequence recognition. Maf transcription factors regulate tissue-specific gene expression and cell-differentiation in a wide variety of tissues and are also involved in human diseases and oncogenic transformation. Tissue-specific expression invloves Maf binding to Maf-recognition elements (MAREs) in the regulatory regions of target genes, and interacting with other transcription factors.This entry represents MafF, a small Maf protein (sMaf) that lacks the transcriptional activation domain. It forms homodimers that act as transcriptional repressors. sMafs can also form heterodimers with cap 'n' collar (CNC) proteins (p45 NF-E2, Nrf1, Nrf2, and Nrf3) and also with Bach proteins (Bach1 and Bach2) [].
