Mortality Factor 4 Like 1 (MORF4L1), also known as MRG15, is a protein-coding gene that plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including chromatin organization, transcriptional regulation, and DNA repair. This protein is part of several histone-modifying complexes, such as the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex, histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes, and the JARID1A and JARID1B histone demethylase complexes .
MORF4L1 is a chromo domain-containing protein that recognizes di- or trimethylated lysine 36 of histone H3 through its chromo domain . This recognition is essential for its role in transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling. The protein is involved in the acetylation of nucleosomal histones H4 and H2A, which can alter nucleosome-DNA interactions and promote the interaction of modified histones with other proteins that positively regulate transcription .
MORF4L1 is implicated in several critical cellular processes:
Mutations or dysregulation of MORF4L1 have been associated with various diseases, including paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and retinoblastoma . Understanding the function and regulation of MORF4L1 can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying these diseases and potentially lead to the development of targeted therapies.