MAF（MAF bZIP transcription factor），癌症关联基因，基因ID：4094，这个基因编码的蛋白质是一个DNA结合，亮氨酸拉链包含转录因子，作为同二聚体或异二聚体。根据结合位点和结合伙伴，编码的蛋白质可以是转录激活物或阻遏物。这种蛋白在一些细胞过程中起调节作用，包括胚胎晶状体纤维细胞的发育，增加t细胞对凋亡的敏感性，以及软骨细胞的终末分化。该基因缺陷是幼年性粉状白内障和先天性化脓性白内障4（cca4）的病因之一。已经发现了两个编码不同亚型的转录变体。[由RefSeq提供，2010年1月]The protein encoded by this gene is a DNA-binding， leucine zipper-containing transcription factor that acts as a homodimer or as a heterodimer. Depending on the binding site and binding partner， the encoded protein can be a transcriptional activator or repressor. This protein plays a role in the regulation of several cellular processes， including embryonic lens fiber cell development， increased T-cell susceptibility to apoptosis， and chondrocyte terminal differentiation. Defects in this gene are a cause of juvenile-onset pulverulent cataract as well as congenital cerulean cataract 4 (CCA4). Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided。