NFYA

NFYA
Available structures
PDB	Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB
List of PDB id codes
	4AWL
Identifiers
Aliases	NFYA, CBF-A, CBF-B, HAP2, NF-YA, nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha
External IDs	OMIM: 189903; MGI: 97316; HomoloGene: 32114; GeneCards: NFYA; OMA:NFYA - orthologs
Gene location (Human)
Chr.	Chromosome 6 (human)
End	41,102,403 bp
Gene location (Mouse)
Chr.	Chromosome 17 (mouse)
End	48,716,934 bp
RNA expression pattern
	Top expressed in
	buccal mucosa cell; ; ganglionic eminence; ; right testis; ; left testis; ; sperm; ; secondary oocyte; ; testicle; ; bone marrow cells; ; islet of Langerhans; ; monocyte;
	Top expressed in
	secondary oocyte; ; primary oocyte; ; zygote; ; genital tubercle; ; tail of embryo; ; ganglionic eminence; ; thymus; ; granulocyte; ; yolk sac; ; placenta;
	More reference expression data
	; ; ; ;
	More reference expression data
Gene ontology
Molecular function	DNA-binding transcription factor activity; DNA binding; core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding; protein binding; RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding; DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific;
Cellular component	CCAAT-binding factor complex; protein-DNA complex; nucleus; nucleoplasm; RNA polymerase II transcription regulator complex;
Biological process	positive regulation of transcription, DNA-templated; regulation of transcription, DNA-templated; transcription by RNA polymerase II; transcription, DNA-templated; rhythmic process; regulation of cholesterol biosynthetic process; regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II;
	Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs
	4800
	18044
	ENSG00000001167
	ENSMUSG00000023994
	P23511
	P23708
	NM_021705; NM_002505
	NM_001110832; NM_010913; NM_001347401; NM_001347402; NM_001374803
	NP_002496; NP_068351
	NP_001104302; NP_001334330; NP_001334331; NP_035043; NP_001361732
	Wikidata
View/Edit Human	View/Edit Mouse

Nuclear transcription factor Y subunit alpha is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NFYA gene.^[5]^[6]

Function

The protein encoded by this gene is one subunit of a trimeric complex NF-Y, forming a highly conserved transcription factor that binds to CCAAT motifs in the promoter regions in a variety of genes.^[7] Subunit NFYA associates with a tight dimer composed of the NFYB and NFYC subunits, resulting in a trimer that binds to DNA with high specificity and affinity. The sequence specific interactions of the complex are made by the NFYA subunit, suggesting a role as the regulatory subunit. In addition, there is evidence of post-transcriptional regulation in this gene product, either by protein degradation or control of translation. Further regulation is represented by alternative splicing in the glutamine-rich activation domain, with clear tissue-specific preferences for the two isoforms.^[8]

NF-Y complex serves as a pioneer factor by promoting chromatin accessibility to facilitate other co-localizing cell type-specific transcription factors.^[9]

NF-Y has also been implicated as a central player in transcription start site (TSS) selection in animals.^[10] It safeguards the integrity of the nucleosome-depleted region and PIC localization at protein-coding gene promoters.

Interactions

NFYA has been shown to interact with Serum response factor^[11] and ZHX1.^[11]^[12] NFYA, NFYB and NFYC form the NFY complex and it has been shown that the NFY complex serves as a pioneer factor by promoting chromatin accessibility to facilitate other co-localizing cell type-specific transcription factors.^[7]

Structure

The atomic structure of the NFY heterotrimer in complex with dsDNA was resolved via X-ray crystallography (PDB ID 4awl).^[13] Using one of the NFYA alpha helices as a template, structure inspired stapled peptides were designed to disrupt the NFY heterotrimer formation by preventing NFYA from binding to the NFYB/C heterodimer.^[14]