The Ret finger protein-like (RFPL) protein family members includes RFPL1, RFPL2, RFPL3 and RFPL4. In humans, RFPL transcripts can be detected at the onset of neurogenesis in differentiating human embryonic stem cells, and in the developing human neocortex []. The human RFPL1, 2, 3 genes have a role in neocortex development. RFPL1 is a primate-specific target gene of Pax6, a key transcription factor for pancreas, eye and neocortex development. Human RFPL1, 2 and 3 are reported to impact on cell number, specifically through the RFPL-defining motif (RDM) and SPRY domains []. The RFPL4 (also known as RFPL4A) gene encodes a putative E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase expressed in adult germ cells and interacts with oocyte proteins of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway [].
This domain, consisting of the distinct N-terminal PRY subdomain followed by the SPRY subdomain, is found at the C terminus of Ret finger protein-like (RFPL) protein family, which includes RFPL1, RFPL2, RFPL3 and RFPL4. In humans, RFPL transcripts can be detected at the onset of neurogenesis in differentiating human embryonic stem cells, and in the developing human neocortex []. The human RFPL1, 2, 3 genes have a role in neocortex development. RFPL1 is a primate-specific target gene of Pax6, a key transcription factor for pancreas, eye and neocortex development; human RFPL1 decreases cell number through its RFPL-defining motif (RDM) and SPRY domains []. The RFPL4 (also known as RFPL4A) gene encodes a putative E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase expressed in adult germ cells and interacts with oocyte proteins of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway [].
