Proteins in this family contain the CDGSH-type zinc finger. Interestingly, they do not contain any zinc ions, but rather iron contained in a 2Fe-2S (iron-sulfur) cluster. The conserved sequence C-X-C-X(2)-(S/T)-X(3)-P-X-C-D-G-(S/A/T)-H is a defining feature of this unique family of proteins and is likely involved in iron binding []. They play an important part in the proliferation of breast cancer cells and tumour formation []. CISD1 (also known as mitoNEET) is a mitochondrial protein that plays an important part in mitochondrial bioenergetics. It also plays a part in insulin regulation, inflammation and autophagy []. CISD2 (also known as NAF-1) can be found in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial outer membrane []. It regulates autophagy [].Mutations of the CISD2 gene cause Wolfram syndrome 2 (WFS2), a rare disorder characterized by juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with optic atrophy [].
