Details for: ZNF177

Gene ID: 7730

Gene Type:  Protein-coding  - A gene that serves as a template for producing a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is then translated into a functional protein.

Symbol: ZNF177

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000188629

Description: zinc finger protein 177

Selected Context(s):  Overall

Cell Significance Landscape

Contexts:

Associated with

  • Blood microparticle
    (GO:0072562)
  • Dna-binding transcription factor activity, rna polymerase ii-specific
    (GO:0000981)
  • Metal ion binding
    (GO:0046872)
  • Negative regulation of transcription by rna polymerase ii
    (GO:0000122)
  • Nucleus
    (GO:0005634)
  • Protein binding
    (GO:0005515)
  • Regulation of transcription by rna polymerase ii
    (GO:0006357)
  • Rna polymerase ii transcription regulatory region sequence-specific dna binding
    (GO:0000977)
  • Sequence-specific double-stranded dna binding
    (GO:1990837)

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • VIP GABAergic cortical interneuron CL4023016
    CSI 3.01
    rCSI 3.6%
    PRS 98
  • sst GABAergic cortical interneuron CL4023017
    CSI 2.67
    rCSI 3.44%
    PRS 98.28
  • pvalb GABAergic cortical interneuron CL4023018
    CSI 2.52
    rCSI 3.14%
    PRS 97.71
  • caudal ganglionic eminence derived cortical interneuron CL4023064
    CSI 2.45
    rCSI 4.33%
    PRS 97.99

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

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Comma-separated if multiple.
Legend:
  • Query Gene
  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

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Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is a protein-coding gene that encodes Zinc Finger Protein 177. As a member of the zinc finger protein family, it is predicted to function as a DNA-binding transcription factor. Gene Ontology annotations suggest its involvement in the negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. Expression data indicates that [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) has a highly specific role within the central nervous system, showing significant expression primarily in distinct subtypes of GABAergic cortical interneurons, which are crucial for inhibitory signaling in the brain. ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression profile of [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) points towards a specialized function in the cerebral cortex. **Overall**, the gene demonstrates its highest significance in several key classes of inhibitory neurons. * **Primary Expression Context:** [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is most significant in [VIP GABAergic cortical interneuron](/details-cell/CL4023016) (CSI: 3.01), [sst GABAergic cortical interneuron](/details-cell/CL4023017) (CSI: 2.67), and [pvalb GABAergic cortical interneuron](/details-cell/CL4023018) (CSI: 2.52). Its high significance is also noted in [caudal ganglionic eminence derived cortical interneuron](/details-cell/CL4023064) (CSI: 2.45), the developmental precursors to some of these cell types. This restricted expression pattern suggests that [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is not a general neuronal marker but rather a key factor involved in establishing or maintaining the specific identity and function of these diverse yet related inhibitory interneuron populations. ## Pathways and Molecular Function Functional annotations are consistent with the role of [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) as a nuclear protein that modulates gene expression. * **Molecular Function:** The gene is associated with [dna-binding transcription factor activity, rna polymerase ii-specific](/details-go/GO:0000981) and [sequence-specific double-stranded dna binding](/details-go/GO:1990837). This indicates it directly interacts with DNA to control the transcription of target genes. * **Biological Process:** Its primary annotated process is the [negative regulation of transcription by rna polymerase ii](/details-go/GO:0000122). This suggests that a key function of [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) in cortical interneurons may be to act as a transcriptional repressor, silencing genes that are inappropriate for their specific lineage or mature functional state. * **Cellular Component:** Consistent with its function as a transcription factor, [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is localized to the [nucleus](/details-go/GO:0005634). The combined evidence suggests that [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) helps define the molecular identity of specific interneuron subtypes by repressing alternative gene expression programs. ## Research Directions The highly specific expression of [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) in cortical interneurons, coupled with its presumed role as a transcriptional repressor, opens several avenues for future investigation into neurodevelopment and neurological disorders. **Testable Hypotheses:** 1. **Role in Interneuron Specification:** [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is essential for the terminal differentiation and/or functional maintenance of VIP, sst, and pvalb interneuron subtypes. Its loss would lead to a drift in their transcriptomic identity and compromised inhibitory function. 2. **Repression of Alternative Fates:** As a transcriptional repressor, [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) actively suppresses genes associated with excitatory neurons or other glial cell lineages within developing interneurons, thereby solidifying their GABAergic identity. **Proposed Experimental Approach:** To test the hypothesis that [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is critical for maintaining interneuron identity, a conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model could be generated. Using a Cre-driver line specific to cortical interneurons (e.g., Gad2-Cre or Dlx5/6-Cre), [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) could be deleted post-developmentally. The cortex of these cKO mice could then be analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to determine if the distinct transcriptomic profiles of VIP, sst, and pvalb interneurons are altered or lost. Complementary electrophysiological studies, such as patch-clamp recordings from cortical slices, would be essential to assess whether the functional properties of these neurons are impaired. **Therapeutic Potential:** As an intracellular transcription factor, [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is a challenging direct therapeutic target. However, given that dysfunction of cortical interneurons is strongly implicated in conditions like epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism, understanding its regulatory network is of high value. If [ZNF177](/details-gene/7730) is proven to be a master regulator of interneuron health, its downstream targets or upstream regulators could represent more viable points for therapeutic intervention. It may also serve as a sensitive biomarker for the state and health of specific inhibitory circuits in neurological disease models.