This entry includes MICRORCHIDIA-like ATPases, such as MORC1-7 from Arabidopsis and MORC3/4 from animals. MORC1-7 are required for heterochromatin condensation and gene silencing [, ]. MORC3/4 are CW-type zinc finger nuclear proteins. MORC3 has been shown to exist in an autoinhibited state and is activated through binding to methylated histone mark H3K4me3 [], while MORC4 has an intrinsic DNA-dependent but histone-independent ATPase activity []. MORC3 has been linked to autoimmune disorders, Down syndrome, and cancer []. MORC4 has been associated with acute and chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory disorders and cancer [].
