Affinage

MAFG

Transcription factor MafG · UniProt O15525

Length
162 aa
Mass
17.9 kDa
Annotated
2026-04-28
98 papers in source corpus 31 papers cited in narrative 31 extracted findings

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

MAFG is a small bZIP transcription factor that lacks an intrinsic transactivation domain and functions as a context-dependent bidirectional regulator of gene expression: as a homodimer it represses antioxidant response element (ARE/CsMBE)-driven genes, while as an obligate heterodimerization partner it enables CNC-family proteins (Nrf2, Nrf1) and Bach proteins to bind DNA, conferring transcriptional activation or repression depending on the partner (PMID:27058431, PMID:31383749, PMID:35129372). Nrf2–MafG heterodimers activate cytoprotective, metabolic, and redox genes at AREs, and MAFG itself is an Nrf2 target gene forming an autoregulatory loop, whereas Nrf1–MafG heterodimers specifically activate proteasome and proteostasis genes (PMID:22965115, PMID:15574414, PMID:35129372). MAFG repressor activity is expanded by SUMO-2/3 conjugation, which recruits HDAC-containing complexes, and by heterodimerization with BACH1, which in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancers recruits DNMT3B to drive CpG island hypermethylation; MAFG also cooperates with MAT2α in astrocytes to promote DNA methylation and repress anti-inflammatory programs, and functions as an FXR-induced repressor of bile acid synthesis genes in liver (PMID:16738329, PMID:25219500, PMID:32051591, PMID:25651182). Homozygous mafG-null mice exhibit impaired megakaryopoiesis and neurological abnormalities, and compound mafG/mafK nulls display perinatal lethality with severe thrombocytopenia and erythroid defects, establishing non-redundant roles in hematopoiesis and neural function (PMID:9679061, PMID:10716933).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 21 steps
  1. 1998 High

    Establishing that MafG has non-redundant physiological roles resolved whether small Maf family members are functionally interchangeable in vivo: mafG-null mice displayed impaired platelet formation and neurological abnormalities, while mafK-null mice were normal.

    Evidence Gene-targeted knockout mice with phenotypic characterization

    PMID:9679061

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism of MafG-dependent megakaryocyte maturation unknown
    • Neural cell types requiring MafG not identified
    • Whether MafF compensates partially for MafG loss untested
  2. 1998 High

    Determining that TCF11/Nrf1–MafG heterodimers recognize NF-E2/ARE motifs with higher affinity than Nrf1 alone, while MafG homodimers repress and dose-dependently antagonize Nrf1 transactivation, established the dual activator/repressor logic of MafG dimerization.

    Evidence Binding-site selection, EMSA, transient transfection assays

    PMID:9421508

    Open questions at the time
    • In vivo relevance of dose-dependent repression not tested
    • Structural basis of partner-dependent functional switch unclear
  3. 2000 High

    Compound mafG/mafK double-null mice revealed synthetic genetic interactions — perinatal lethality, severe thrombocytopenia, and erythroid deficiency — demonstrating that small Maf proteins collectively are essential for hematopoiesis and survival.

    Evidence Compound mafG::mafK null mice with phenotypic analysis

    PMID:10716933

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct transcriptional targets mediating erythroid and platelet phenotypes not identified
    • Whether Nrf2 or p45 NF-E2 are the critical partners in these lineages unresolved
  4. 2000 High

    Demonstrating that MafG homodimers bind the NQO1 ARE and repress ARE-mediated transcription provided the first direct evidence that MafG without a CNC partner acts as a transcriptional repressor at classic antioxidant response genes.

    Evidence Transfection and EMSA/supershift in HepG2 cells

    PMID:11013233

    Open questions at the time
    • Cofactors mediating homodimer repression not identified at this stage
    • Whether repression is passive (competition) or active was unresolved
  5. 2001 High

    Identifying a native Nrf2–MafG complex (complex X) on the ho-1 stress-response element under cobalt-induced oxidative stress showed that the heterodimer mediates stress-induced gene activation in situ, not just in reconstituted systems.

    Evidence EMSA with antibody supershift, dominant-negative mutants, reporter assays in CoCl₂-treated CHO cells

    PMID:11356853

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether MafG abundance limits ho-1 induction was not addressed
    • Other stress-response element targets not mapped
  6. 2002 High

    Solving the NMR structure of the MafG DNA-binding domain revealed a three-helix fold resembling Skn-1, providing a structural basis for Maf-specific extended DNA recognition through the EHR.

    Evidence NMR structure determination of MafG residues 1–76

    PMID:11875518

    Open questions at the time
    • Structure of full-length MafG or heterodimeric complex not determined
    • How EHR contributes to partner-specific DNA selectivity structurally unresolved
  7. 2004 High

    Discovering that Nrf2 directly transactivates the mafG gene through a proximal ARE established a positive autoregulatory feedback loop, explaining how oxidative stress amplifies MafG levels to sustain the antioxidant response.

    Evidence Reporter assays, ChIP at Ic-ARE, DEM induction absent in nrf2-null cells

    PMID:15574414

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether the loop operates in all tissues or is context-specific unknown
    • Kinetics and termination of the feedback loop not characterized
  8. 2006 High

    Demonstrating that SUMO-2/3 conjugation converts MafG into an active repressor that recruits HDAC-containing complexes resolved the mechanism by which MafG homodimers achieve transcriptional silencing beyond passive DNA-site competition.

    Evidence Sumoylation-deficient MafG mutant in transgenic mice and cell lines, HDAC inhibitor sensitivity

    PMID:16738329

    Open questions at the time
    • Identity of the specific HDAC-containing repressor complex not determined
    • SUMO E3 ligase responsible for MafG sumoylation not identified
  9. 2008 Medium

    Finding that MafG physically interacts with HIF-1α and promotes its nuclear retention extended MafG function beyond ARE-dependent transcription to the hypoxia response pathway.

    Evidence Yeast two-hybrid, SPR confirmation, MafG siRNA with nuclear fractionation and EPO/HRE-reporter readouts

    PMID:18538669

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether MafG–HIF-1α interaction is direct on chromatin or occurs off-DNA unresolved
    • Not confirmed by independent lab
    • Physiological relevance in vivo not tested
  10. 2012 High

    Genome-wide ChIP-seq mapping of Nrf2–MafG co-occupancy revealed that the heterodimer co-binds conserved AREs near the majority of Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective genes and identified glucose metabolism and amino acid transporter genes as novel targets, greatly expanding the known target repertoire.

    Evidence ChIP-seq for Nrf2 and MafG in mouse cells with transcriptional profiling

    PMID:22965115

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether co-occupancy reflects functional activation at every site untested
    • Contribution of other small Mafs at these sites not resolved
  11. 2014 High

    In BRAF(V600E) colorectal cancers, MAFG phosphorylation by the MEK/ERK pathway and its recruitment of a BACH1–CHD8–DNMT3B corepressor complex to CIMP gene promoters revealed how an oncogenic signaling pathway hijacks MAFG to drive epigenetic silencing including MLH1 methylation.

    Evidence RNAi screen, ChIP-seq, co-immunoprecipitation in CRC cell lines and tumors

    PMID:25219500

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether MAFG phosphorylation directly alters partner selectivity or DNA binding unresolved
    • Specific phosphorylation sites not fully mapped
    • Whether DNMT3B recruitment is direct or via CHD8 unclear
  12. 2015 High

    Identifying MAFG as an FXR target that represses bile acid synthesis genes (Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1) via direct ChIP-seq-confirmed binding established MAFG as a metabolic repressor in the enterohepatic bile acid signaling axis.

    Evidence Hepatic MAFG overexpression and MafG(+/−) mouse loss-of-function, ChIP-seq

    PMID:25651182

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether MAFG homodimer or a specific heterodimer mediates bile acid gene repression not determined
    • Interaction with FXR on chromatin not shown
  13. 2015 Medium

    Compound mafG−/−:mafK+/− mice developing progressive cataract linked small Maf deficiency to lens pathology and regulation of non-crystallin cataract genes including oxidative stress and sterol synthesis networks.

    Evidence Compound knockout mouse genetics with microarray profiling

    PMID:25896808

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct MAFG target genes in lens fibers not confirmed by ChIP
    • Whether human MAFG variants associate with cataract unknown
    • Single lab observation
  14. 2019 High

    Reconstituting a tethered Nrf2–MafG heterodimer in small Maf triple-knockout cells proved that this specific heterodimer is necessary and sufficient to activate Nrf2-dependent cytoprotective genes through CsMBE motifs, definitively separating Nrf2 versus Nrf1 target gene programs.

    Evidence Tethered heterodimer in triple-KO cells with ChIP-seq and expression analysis

    PMID:31383749

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether endogenous Nrf2–MafG heterodimers achieve the same selectivity as the tethered construct uncertain
    • Basis for target gene specificity between Nrf2-MafG and Nrf1-MafG not mechanistically explained
  15. 2020 High

    Demonstrating that MAFG cooperates with MAT2α to drive DNA methylation and repress antioxidant/anti-inflammatory programs in astrocytes during EAE/MS, with in vivo CRISPR perturbation reducing CNS pathology, established MAFG as a pro-inflammatory epigenetic effector in neuroinflammation.

    Evidence scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, genome-wide DNA methylation, in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 in mouse EAE model

    PMID:32051591

    Open questions at the time
    • How MAFG–MAT2α interaction mechanistically drives DNMT activity at specific loci unclear
    • Whether this mechanism operates in other neuroinflammatory contexts untested
  16. 2020 High

    Showing that MAFG represses lncRNA expression in obese liver and that its silencing elicits a fasting-like transcriptional program with improved glucose metabolism positioned MAFG as a hepatic metabolic repressor linking nutrient sensing to lncRNA regulation.

    Evidence Mafg siRNA in hepatocytes and obese mice, cistrome analysis, metabolic phenotyping

    PMID:32005828

    Open questions at the time
    • Specific lncRNAs directly repressed by MAFG binding not fully validated
    • Whether mTOR impairment is a direct or indirect consequence of MAFG loss unclear
  17. 2022 High

    The tethered Nrf1–MafG heterodimer specifically activated proteasome subunit and broader proteostasis genes distinct from Nrf2–MafG targets, and SINE B2 repeats were identified as a reservoir of CsMBEs contributing to target diversity, resolving how the same MafG scaffold directs distinct gene programs with different CNC partners.

    Evidence Tethered Nrf1–MafG in small Maf triple-KO cells with ChIP-seq and RNA-seq

    PMID:35129372

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural or epigenetic basis for partner-specific CsMBE selectivity not determined
    • Contribution of SINE-derived CsMBEs to human gene regulation not tested
  18. 2023 Medium

    CRISPR screening identified MAFG as required for PD-L1 super-enhancer activation and BRD4 recruitment, linking MAFG to immune evasion: MAFG-silenced cells failed to upregulate PD-L1 and became susceptible to T-cell killing.

    Evidence CRISPR-Cas9 saturated screen, siRNA, ChIP, chromatin loop analysis, T-cell killing assay

    PMID:37985752

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether MAFG binds the super-enhancer directly or acts through NFE2L1 unclear
    • Single-lab observation; independent replication needed
    • Mechanism of BRD4 recruitment by MAFG not defined
  19. 2024 High

    MafG interaction with MYH9 and direct transcriptional activation of LCN2 via its MARE motif linked MafG to ferroptosis resistance in hepatic stellate cells, with HSC-specific AAV knockdown alleviating liver fibrosis in vivo.

    Evidence Co-IP, MARE mutagenesis, reporter assays, HSC-specific AAV6 knockdown in BDL mice

    PMID:38871948

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional role of MYH9 in MafG transcriptional activity unknown
    • Whether MafG–LCN2 axis operates in other fibrotic tissues untested
  20. 2025 Medium

    Identifying METTL11A-mediated K6 methylation as a stabilizing post-translational modification of MAFG added a new layer of regulation: METTL11A prevents MAFG degradation, and MAFG/NRF2 activate NPL4 to form a positive feedback loop promoting bladder cancer proliferation.

    Evidence Co-IP, ChIP, luciferase assay, transcriptome sequencing, xenograft models

    PMID:40171788

    Open questions at the time
    • Specific lysine residue(s) methylated not confirmed by mass spectrometry in this study
    • Degradation pathway of unmethylated MAFG not identified
    • Single lab, independent validation needed
  21. 2025 High

    MafG–Bach1 heterodimer was shown to directly activate Lcn2 transcription in alveolar epithelial cells, promoting iron accumulation and ferroptosis during sepsis-induced acute lung injury, broadening MafG's role in ferroptosis across tissue contexts.

    Evidence Co-IP/mass spectrometry, luciferase reporter, siRNA/AAV knockdown, CLP sepsis model

    PMID:41475687

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether Bach1 serves as activator or repressor in this context contradicts canonical Bach1 function — mechanism not explained
    • Relevance to human sepsis-induced ALI not tested

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • Key open questions include the structural basis of partner-dependent transcriptional switching (activation vs. repression), the identity of the SUMO-dependent HDAC complex recruited by MafG homodimers, and the full landscape of post-translational modifications controlling MafG stability and partner selectivity in different tissues.
  • No co-crystal structure of any MafG heterodimer on DNA
  • SUMO-recruited HDAC complex subunits unidentified
  • Comprehensive PTM map of endogenous MAFG lacking
  • Relative in vivo abundance of homodimer vs. each heterodimer species unknown

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0140110 transcription regulator activity 13 GO:0003677 DNA binding 6
Localization
GO:0005634 nucleus 6
Pathway
R-HSA-74160 Gene expression (Transcription) 10 R-HSA-8953897 Cellular responses to stimuli 5 R-HSA-4839726 Chromatin organization 3 R-HSA-1430728 Metabolism 2 R-HSA-168256 Immune System 1
Partners
BACH1CHD8DNMT3BMAT2AMITFMYH9NFE2L1NFE2L2
Complex memberships
MAFG–BACH1–CHD8–DNMT3B corepressor complexMAFG–MAT2α complexNrf1–MafG heterodimerNrf2–MafG heterodimer

Evidence

Reading pass · 31 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2012 Nrf2-MafG heterodimers co-occupy antioxidant response elements (AREs) genome-wide, with co-occupied sites showing higher enrichment in species-conserved regions and ARE motifs, and the majority of Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective genes located near Nrf2-MafG-binding sites; additionally, glucose metabolism genes and amino acid transporters were identified as Nrf2-MafG target genes. ChIP-seq for Nrf2 and MafG genome-wide binding, combined with transcriptional profiling Nucleic Acids Research High 22965115
2000 MafG and MafK homodimers bind the NQO1 ARE and negatively regulate ARE-mediated expression and antioxidant induction of NQO1 and GST Ya genes; MafG-Nrf2 heterodimers also bind the ARE and repress transcription, whereas MafG-Nrf1 heterodimers failed to bind the NQO1 ARE. Transfection overexpression assays in HepG2 cells; EMSA and supershift assays Journal of Biological Chemistry High 11013233
2016 MAFG, as a bZIP-type transcription factor lacking a transcriptional activation domain, forms homodimers that act as transcriptional repressors, and forms heterodimers with CNC proteins (p45 NF-E2, Nrf1, Nrf2, Nrf3) and Bach proteins (Bach1, Bach2), which are required for CNC and Bach proteins to bind DNA; heterodimer function (activation or repression) depends on the partner. Review synthesizing genetic analyses, dimerization studies, and mouse knockout models Gene High 27058431
2004 Nrf2 transcriptionally activates the mafG gene through an ARE (Ic-ARE) in the mafG proximal promoter; the Nrf2/MafG heterodimer binds the Ic-ARE and activates transcription, establishing an autoregulatory feedback loop; DEM failed to induce mafG in nrf2-null cells. Reporter assays, ChIP, DEM induction in nrf2-null cells Journal of Biological Chemistry High 15574414
2006 MafG is conjugated to SUMO-2/3 in vivo; sumoylation-deficient MafG retains normal heterodimer (p45-dependent) transcriptional activation but loses active transcriptional repression, and this SUMO-dependent repression is sensitive to histone deacetylase inhibition, indicating MafG recruits an HDAC-containing repressor complex through sumoylation. In vivo sumoylation assay, transgenic mice, cultured cells with sumoylation-deficient MafG mutant, HDAC inhibitor treatment Molecular and Cellular Biology High 16738329
2014 In BRAF(V600E) colorectal cancers, MAFG is phosphorylated downstream of BRAF/MEK/ERK signaling (elevated levels), binds promoters of CIMP genes (including MLH1), and recruits a corepressor complex containing its heterodimeric partner BACH1, chromatin remodeling factor CHD8, and DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B, resulting in CpG island hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing. RNAi screen, ChIP-seq, co-immunoprecipitation, CRC cell lines and tumor analysis Molecular Cell High 25219500
2015 MAFG is an FXR target gene that functions as a transcriptional repressor of bile acid synthesis and metabolism genes (including Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1); hepatic MAFG overexpression represses these genes and modifies biliary bile acid composition, while MafG(+/-) mice show de-repression of these genes; ChIP-seq identified functional MafG response elements in bile acid metabolism genes. Hepatic overexpression, MafG(+/-) mouse loss-of-function, ChIP-seq Cell Metabolism High 25651182
1998 mafG homozygous null mice exhibit impaired platelet formation with megakaryocyte proliferation and behavioral abnormalities, while mafK-null mice are phenotypically normal, demonstrating MafG has a non-redundant in vivo role in megakaryopoiesis and neurological function. Gene targeting (knockout mice), phenotypic analysis Genes & Development High 9679061
2000 Compound mafG/mafK double-null mice develop erythroid deficiencies, severe thrombocytopenia (impaired proplatelet formation), severe neurological disorders, and perinatal lethality, demonstrating synthetic genetic interactions between small Maf proteins in erythropoiesis, megakaryopoiesis, and neural function. Genetic epistasis via compound mafG::mafK null mice EMBO Journal High 10716933
2002 NMR structure of the DNA-binding domain of MafG (residues 1–76) containing the Maf extended homology region (EHR) and basic region was determined; the structure consists of three alpha-helices resembling the fold of Skn-1, providing a structural basis for Maf-specific DNA recognition. NMR structure determination Nature Structural Biology High 11875518
2019 A tethered Nrf2-MafG (T-N2G) heterodimer introduced into small Maf triple-knockout cells directly and specifically activates Nrf2 target cytoprotective genes through CsMBE motifs, but not Nrf1 target proteasome subunit genes, providing direct evidence that the Nrf2-MafG heterodimer is a transcriptional activator of Nrf2-dependent genes. Tethered heterodimer construct, small Maf triple-KO cells, genome-wide ChIP-seq, gene expression analysis Molecular and Cellular Biology High 31383749
2022 Tethered Nrf1-MafG (T-N1G) heterodimer specifically activates proteasome subunit genes and broader proteostasis-related genes (ER-associated degradation, chaperone, ubiquitin-mediated degradation) through CsMBEs, distinct from Nrf2-MafG targets; SINE B2 repeats harbor CsMBEs at high frequency and contribute to CNC-sMaf target gene diversity. Tethered heterodimer construct in small Maf triple-KO cells, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq Molecular and Cellular Biology High 35129372
1998 TCF11/Nrf1-MafG heterodimer recognizes the NF-E2/ARE/HRE binding site (5'-TGCTgaGTCAT-3') with higher affinity than TCF11 alone; MafG alone acts as a transcriptional repressor, and when co-expressed with TCF11, MafG interferes with TCF11 transactivation in a dose-dependent manner. Binding-site selection, EMSA, transient transfection assays Nucleic Acids Research High 9421508
2001 In cobalt/CoCl2-stimulated Chinese hamster ovary cells, Nrf2 and MafG form a complex (complex X) that binds stress-response elements (StREs) in the ho-1 promoter; dominant-negative mutants of Nrf2 and small Maf (but not other bZIP factors) attenuate cobalt-mediated ho-1 gene activation; induction is not dependent on increased MafG expression or Nrf2 nuclear translocation but on cellular oxidative stress. EMSA with antibody supershift, dominant-negative mutants, reporter assays Journal of Biological Chemistry High 11356853
2004 MafG binding affinities to MARE-related sequences were quantitatively measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging on a double-stranded DNA array; kinetic values correlated well with those from EMSA, establishing the biophysical parameters of MafG-DNA interaction for six MARE-related sequences. SPR imaging on DNA arrays, EMSA comparison Genes to Cells Medium 15009092
2008 MafG interacts with HIF-1α (identified by yeast two-hybrid, confirmed by surface plasmon resonance); MafG knockdown reduces nuclear accumulation of HIF-1α (without changing total HIF-1α protein) and reduces erythropoietin mRNA levels and hypoxia response element-driven reporter activity, indicating MafG promotes hypoxic gene responses by retaining HIF-1α in the nucleus. Yeast two-hybrid, SPR, MafG siRNA knockdown, nuclear fractionation, reporter assay FEBS Letters Medium 18538669
2020 In EAE and multiple sclerosis astrocytes, MAFG cooperates with MAT2α to promote DNA methylation and represses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory transcriptional programs; GM-CSF signaling drives MAFG and MAT2α expression in astrocytes; in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 perturbation of MAFG reduced CNS pathology. scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, genome-wide DNA methylation, in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 perturbations, Ribotag RNA profiling Nature High 32051591
2020 During diet-induced obesity (DIO), increased MAFG signaling represses lncRNA expression in mouse liver; silencing Mafg in hepatocytes and obese mice elicits a fasting-like gene expression profile, improves glucose metabolism, de-represses lncRNAs, and impairs mTOR activation, placing MAFG upstream of lncRNA-mediated hepatic glucose control. Mafg siRNA silencing in hepatocytes and obese mice, ChIP (cistrome analysis), gain-of-function, metabolic assays Nature Communications High 32005828
2018 MAFG interacts directly with methionine adenosyltransferase α1 (MATα1) and other transcription factors at E-box elements to repress transcription; MAFG expression is induced by lithocholic acid via AP-1, NF-κB, and E-box sites in the MAFG promoter; MAT2A overexpression increases MAFG promoter activity and MAT1A opposes this; SAMe and UDCA prevent LCA-mediated MAFG induction. EMSA, ChIP, reporter assays, siRNA knockdown, overexpression in liver/biliary cancer cells Gastroenterology Medium 29733835
2005 MafG forms heterodimers with FosB in the nucleus; extracellular acidification (pH decrease from 7.40 to 6.80) enhances MafG-FosB dimerization and increases MafG-FosB binding to AP-1 consensus sequences (TGACTCA), leading to increased MMP-1 expression. Immunofluorescence co-localization, protein binding studies, EMSA, reporter assays Journal of Cellular Physiology Medium 15828020
2024 MafG physically interacts with non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIa (MYH9) and transcriptionally activates LCN2 (lipocalin-2) expression by binding its MARE motif; site-directed mutation of the MARE motif blocks MafG-LCN2 promoter binding; re-expression of LCN2 in MafG-knockdown hepatic stellate cells restores ferroptosis resistance; AAV6-mediated HSC-specific MafG knockdown improved erastin-induced HSC ferroptosis and alleviated liver fibrosis in BDL mice. Co-IP, site-directed mutagenesis of MARE, reporter assays, HSC-specific AAV-KD in vivo, ferroptosis assays Cell Death and Differentiation High 38871948
2022 The NRF2/MAFG heterodimer directly binds the AKR1C3 promoter to activate its transcription in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, as demonstrated by ChIP assay. ChIP assay, overexpression/knockdown, reporter assays Oncogene Medium 35773412
2023 YAP inactivation (driven by soft-matrix mechanotransduction via integrin β8/RhoGDI1/RhoA pathway) relieves YAP-mediated inhibition of MAFG, allowing MAFG to transactivate stemness genes NANOG, SOX2, and NESTIN, promoting tumor cell dedifferentiation; MAFG also restores β8 expression, forming a closed mechanical feedback loop. Integrin β8 identification, RhoA/YAP pathway epistasis, loss-of-function/gain-of-function, gene expression analysis Research (Washington, D.C.) Medium 37614365
2021 MAFG overexpression in osteosarcoma cells promotes cell growth, proliferation, and migration while reducing oxidative injury and apoptosis; miR-4660 directly binds the 3'-UTR of MAFG mRNA and suppresses MAFG expression and OS cell growth in vitro and in vivo. MAFG silencing/KO/overexpression in OS cells, miR-4660 3'-UTR luciferase assay, xenograft mouse models Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acids Medium 33868783
2017 miR-128 directly targets the 3'-UTR of MAFG mRNA and reduces endogenous MAFG expression; ectopic miR-128 expression reduces MAFG-dependent ARE-mediated gene expression and impairs redox-dependent pathways; under hypoxia, reduced miR-128 leads to MAFG induction and increased HMOX-1 and xCT expression. Bioinformatic prediction, 3'-UTR luciferase assay, miR-128 overexpression, ARE-reporter assays, hypoxia experiments Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity Medium 29138682
2015 Mafg-/-:Mafk+/- compound knockout mice develop progressive cataract from age 4 months; Mafg and Mafk regulate a network of non-crystallin cataract-associated genes in lens fiber cells, including genes linked to oxidative stress and sterol synthesis. Compound KO mouse genetics, microarray expression profiling, phenotypic characterization, integrative bioinformatics Human Genetics Medium 25896808
2024 MAFG binds the HMOX1 promoter and represses its transcription; MAFG knockdown alleviates depression-like behaviors in CUMS mice and reduces neuroinflammation in LPS-treated astrocytes via restoration of HMOX1. ChIP assay, MAFG knockdown in astrocytes and CUMS mouse model, behavioral assays Brain Research Medium 38977234
2025 MafG forms a functional heterodimer with Bach1 that directly binds the Lcn2 promoter and drives its transcriptional activation; Lcn2 upregulation promotes iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation leading to ferroptosis in alveolar epithelial cells during sepsis-induced acute lung injury; AAV-shMafG treatment in vivo mitigated lung injury and improved redox balance. Co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, luciferase reporter assay, siRNA/AAV knockdown, in vivo CLP model, redox markers Free Radical Biology and Medicine High 41475687
2025 MAFG interacts with METTL11A; METTL11A prevents MAFG degradation through K6 methylation modification; MAFG and NRF2 bind the NPL4 promoter to promote its transcription, forming a positive feedback loop (METTL11A-MAFG-NPL4) that promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation. Co-immunoprecipitation, ChIP, luciferase assay, transcriptome sequencing, xenograft models FASEB Journal Medium 40171788
2024 MAFG interacts with the lineage transcription factor MITF; MAFG and MITF co-occupy numerous genomic sites; MITF is required for the pro-tumorigenic effects of MAFG in melanoma; MAFG overexpression induces a phenotype switch from melanocytic to dedifferentiated state. Co-IP, ChIP-seq, ectopic overexpression, xenograft and genetic mouse models of melanoma bioRxiv (preprint)preprint Medium 39282450
2023 MAFG and NFE2L1 (NRF1) are required for PD-L1 expression via a super-enhancer locus (locus 22); MAFG silencing reduces BRD4 binding and chromatin loop formation at the PD-L1 super-enhancer but has minimal effect on H3K27Ac; cells with MAFG silencing fail to upregulate PD-L1 in response to LPS and cannot evade T-cell killing. CRISPR-Cas9 saturated screening, siRNA silencing, ChIP, chromatin loop analysis, T-cell killing assay Oncogenesis Medium 37985752

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 98 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
2020 MAFG-driven astrocytes promote CNS inflammation. Nature 376 32051591
2012 Nrf2-MafG heterodimers contribute globally to antioxidant and metabolic networks. Nucleic acids research 356 22965115
2016 Small Maf proteins (MafF, MafG, MafK): History, structure and function. Gene 198 27058431
2000 Small maf (MafG and MafK) proteins negatively regulate antioxidant response element-mediated expression and antioxidant induction of the NAD(P)H:Quinone oxidoreductase1 gene. The Journal of biological chemistry 183 11013233
2014 The BRAF oncoprotein functions through the transcriptional repressor MAFG to mediate the CpG Island Methylator phenotype. Molecular cell 182 25219500
2001 Cobalt induces heme oxygenase-1 expression by a hypoxia-inducible factor-independent mechanism in Chinese hamster ovary cells: regulation by Nrf2 and MafG transcription factors. The Journal of biological chemistry 132 11356853
2012 The small MAF transcription factors MAFF, MAFG and MAFK: current knowledge and perspectives. Biochimica et biophysica acta 127 22721719
2004 Nrf2 transcriptionally activates the mafG gene through an antioxidant response element. The Journal of biological chemistry 105 15574414
1998 Interaction of the CNC-bZIP factor TCF11/LCR-F1/Nrf1 with MafG: binding-site selection and regulation of transcription. Nucleic acids research 105 9421508
1998 Impaired megakaryopoiesis and behavioral defects in mafG-null mutant mice. Genes & development 95 9679061
2015 MAFG is a transcriptional repressor of bile acid synthesis and metabolism. Cell metabolism 81 25651182
2000 Perinatal synthetic lethality and hematopoietic defects in compound mafG::mafK mutant mice. The EMBO journal 78 10716933
2018 Mechanisms of MAFG Dysregulation in Cholestatic Liver Injury and Development of Liver Cancer. Gastroenterology 77 29733835
2018 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 promotes the progression of colorectal cancer by sponging miR-147b and activation of NDUFA4. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 77 30348529
2004 Evaluation of MafG interaction with Maf recognition element arrays by surface plasmon resonance imaging technique. Genes to cells : devoted to molecular & cellular mechanisms 58 15009092
2019 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 facilitates the migration and invasion of NSCLC cell via sponging miR-339-5p from MMP15. Cell biology international 55 30599080
2019 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 boosts the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells via regulating miR-744-5p/MAFG axis. European journal of pharmacology 54 31211984
1996 Oxidative stress induces the levels of a MafG homolog in hamster HA-1 cells. Free radical biology & medicine 53 8886803
2017 DNA Methylation of miR-7 is a Mechanism Involved in Platinum Response through MAFG Overexpression in Cancer Cells. Theranostics 52 29158814
2006 MafG sumoylation is required for active transcriptional repression. Molecular and cellular biology 47 16738329
2015 Compound mouse mutants of bZIP transcription factors Mafg and Mafk reveal a regulatory network of non-crystallin genes associated with cataract. Human genetics 46 25896808
2002 Solution structure of the DNA-binding domain of MafG. Nature structural biology 41 11875518
2021 MAFG-AS1/MAFG positive feedback loop contributes to cisplatin resistance in bladder urothelial carcinoma through antagonistic ferroptosis. Science bulletin 40 36654385
2020 Cross-talk between the ER pathway and the lncRNA MAFG-AS1/miR-339-5p/ CDK2 axis promotes progression of ER+ breast cancer and confers tamoxifen resistance. Aging 40 33098638
2020 MAFG-AS1 promotes tumor progression via regulation of the HuR/PTBP1 axis in bladder urothelial carcinoma. Clinical and translational medicine 40 33377647
2020 Opposite effects of the FXR agonist obeticholic acid on Mafg and Nrf2 mediate the development of acute liver injury in rodent models of cholestasis. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular and cell biology of lipids 38 32371093
2019 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 promotes the aggressiveness of breast carcinoma through regulating miR-339-5p/MMP15. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences 38 31002134
2020 A MAFG-lncRNA axis links systemic nutrient abundance to hepatic glucose metabolism. Nature communications 37 32005828
2017 miR-128 Is Implicated in Stress Responses by Targeting MAFG in Skeletal Muscle Cells. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 36 29138682
2002 Differential induction of mafF, mafG and mafK expression by electrophile-response-element activators. The Biochemical journal 33 11772409
2021 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 regulates miR-125b-5p/SphK1 axis to promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of bladder cancer cells. Human cell 31 33400245
2021 A MAPK/miR-29 Axis Suppresses Melanoma by Targeting MAFG and MYBL2. Cancers 31 33808771
2020 Regulatory effect of the MAFG‑AS1/miR‑150‑5p/MYB axis on the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. International journal of oncology 31 33367930
2018 MAFG is a potential therapeutic target to restore chemosensitivity in cisplatin-resistant cancer cells by increasing reactive oxygen species. Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine 31 30053382
2024 MafG/MYH9-LCN2 axis promotes liver fibrosis through inhibiting ferroptosis of hepatic stellate cells. Cell death and differentiation 30 38871948
2021 MAFG-driven osteosarcoma cell progression is inhibited by a novel miRNA miR-4660. Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids 30 33868783
2019 Direct and Specific Functional Evaluation of the Nrf2 and MafG Heterodimer by Introducing a Tethered Dimer into Small Maf-Deficient Cells. Molecular and cellular biology 30 31383749
2022 AKR1C3 regulated by NRF2/MAFG complex promotes proliferation via stabilizing PARP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 28 35773412
2019 Long noncoding RNA MAFG-AS1 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through downregulation of miR-6852. Experimental and therapeutic medicine 28 31572506
2021 HBx-upregulated MAFG-AS1 promotes cell proliferation and migration of hepatoma cells by enhancing MAFG expression and stabilizing nonmuscle myosin IIA. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 24 33813778
2021 Long Non-coding RNA MAFG-AS1 Promotes Cell Proliferation, Migration, and EMT by miR-3196/STRN4 in Drug-Resistant Cells of Liver Cancer. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology 24 34386494
2021 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 promotes the malignant phenotype of ovarian cancer by upregulating NFKB1-dependent IGF1. Cancer gene therapy 22 34035482
2020 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 Accelerates Cell Migration, Invasion and Aerobic Glycolysis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells via miR-765/PDX1 Axis. Cancer management and research 22 32801913
2020 Long non-coding RNA MAFG-AS1 knockdown blocks malignant progression in breast cancer cells by inactivating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway via MAFG-AS1/miR-3196/TFAP2A axis. International journal of clinical and experimental pathology 21 33165437
2022 Long non-coding RNA MAFG-AS1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer by modulating STC2 pathway. Cell death discovery 20 35513366
2020 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 regulates human periodontal ligament stem cell proliferation and Toll-like receptor 4 expression. Oral diseases 19 32176822
2020 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 Promotes the Progression of Bladder Cancer by Targeting the miR-143-3p/COX-2 Axis. Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology 19 33238264
2020 Downregulation of long non-coding RNA MAFG-AS1 represses tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer cells through the microRNA-149-3p-dependent inhibition of HOXB8. Cancer cell international 18 33093810
2020 MAFG-AS1 aggravates the progression of pancreatic cancer by sponging miR-3196 to boost NFIX. Cancer cell international 18 33298078
2008 MafG controls the hypoxic response of cells by accumulating HIF-1alpha in the nuclei. FEBS letters 17 18538669
2023 YAP Inactivation by Soft Mechanotransduction Relieves MAFG for Tumor Cell Dedifferentiation. Research (Washington, D.C.) 15 37614365
2022 Target Gene Diversity of the Nrf1-MafG Transcription Factor Revealed by a Tethered Heterodimer. Molecular and cellular biology 15 35129372
2022 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 deregulated in breast cancer affects autophagy and progression of breast cancer by interacting with miR-3612 and FKBP4 invitro. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 15 35653827
2022 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Migration and Invasion by Targeting miR-3196 and Regulating SOX12 Expression. Molecular biotechnology 14 35275356
2022 Deficiency of the bZIP transcription factors Mafg and Mafk causes misexpression of genes in distinct pathways and results in lens embryonic developmental defects. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology 14 36092713
2021 Silencing of LINC00284 inhibits cell proliferation and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma by the miR-211-3p/MAFG axis and FUS/KAZN axis. Cancer biology & therapy 14 33618612
2021 Proteome-scale profiling reveals MAFF and MAFG as two novel key transcription factors involved in palmitic acid-induced umbilical vein endothelial cell apoptosis. BMC cardiovascular disorders 14 34535081
2020 Long noncoding RNA MAFG-AS1 facilitates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting miR-3196/OTX1 axis. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences 14 33336731
2005 Extracellular acidification enhances DNA binding activity of MafG-FosB heterodimer. Journal of cellular physiology 14 15828020
2000 Cloning of MafG homologue from the rat brain by differential display and its expression after hypercapnic stimulation. Molecular and cellular biochemistry 13 10724342
2021 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 Suppresses the Maturation of miR-34a to Promote Glioblastoma Cell Proliferation. Cancer management and research 12 33911899
2020 Long noncoding RNA MAFG-AS1 facilitates bladder cancer tumorigenesis via regulation of miR-143-3p/SERPINE1 axis. Translational cancer research 12 35117325
1997 Molecular characterization and localization of the human MAFG gene. Genomics 12 9286713
2023 Long non-coding RNA MAFG-AS1: A promising therapeutic target for human cancers. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie 11 37105079
2021 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 affects the tumorigenesis of breast cancer cells via the miR-574-5p/SOD2 axis. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 11 33989902
2021 Discovery and characterization of novel peptide inhibitors of the NRF2/MAFG/DNA ternary complex for the treatment of cancer. European journal of medicinal chemistry 11 34303079
2001 MafG-2 is a novel Maf protein that is expressed by stimulation of extracellular H(+). Cellular signalling 11 11583919
2023 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 is involved in human cancer progression. European journal of medical research 9 37941063
2023 Identifying a locus in super-enhancer and its resident NFE2L1/MAFG as transcriptional factors that drive PD-L1 expression and immune evasion. Oncogenesis 9 37985752
2023 Transcription factor ETV1-induced lncRNA MAFG-AS1 promotes migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of pancreatic cancer cells by recruiting IGF2BP2 to stabilize ETV1 expression. Growth factors (Chur, Switzerland) 8 37428861
2022 Long Non-Coding RNA MAFG-AS1 as a Potential Biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Linkage with Tumor Features, Markers, Liver Functions, and Survival Profile. Frontiers in surgery 8 36034393
2022 lncRNA MAFG‑AS1 enhances radioresistance of glioblastoma cells via miR‑642a‑5p/Notch1 axis. Acta neurobiologiae experimentalis 7 36214714
2022 LncRNA MAFG-AS1-induced acute myeloid leukemia development via modulating miR-147b/HOXA9. Environmental science and pollution research international 7 36229729
2021 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 Upregulates Polo-Like Kinase-1 by Sponging miR-505 to Promote Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cell Proliferation. Critical reviews in eukaryotic gene expression 7 34591387
2020 lncRNA MAFG-AS1 Contributes to Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma Progression via Regulating miR143/LASP1. OncoTargets and therapy 7 32903907
2024 LncRNA NEAT1/miR-146a-5p Axis Restores Normal Angiogenesis in Diabetic Foot Ulcers by Targeting mafG. Cells 6 38474419
2023 A review on the roles and molecular mechanisms of MAFG-AS1 in oncogenesis. Pathology, research and practice 6 36736142
2021 The small protein MafG plays a critical role in MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis induced by simulated microgravity and radiation. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 6 33819748
2022 MafG-like contribute to copper and cadmium induced antioxidant response by regulating antioxidant enzyme in Procambarus clarkii. Gene 5 36096331
2010 Intrinsic and extrinsic effects of mafG deficiency on hematopoietic recovery following bone marrow transplant. Experimental hematology 5 20813153
2023 Carcinogenic roles of MAFG-AS1 in human cancers. Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico 4 37351806
1998 Structure and chromosome mapping of the human small maf-genes MAFG and MAFK. Cytogenetics and cell genetics 4 9763667
2024 MAFG-DT promotes prostate cancer bone metastasis through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Frontiers in oncology 3 39735608
2022 LncRNA EIF3J-AS1 functions as an oncogene by regulating MAFG to promote prostate cancer progression. Journal of Cancer 3 34976178
2005 Neuronal expression of nuclear transcription factor MafG in the rat medulla oblongata after baroreceptor stimulation. Life sciences 3 16263136
2025 Curcumol targets the FTO/MAFG-AS1 axis to alleviate diabetic retinopathy via epigenetic remodeling and nanodelivery-based microenvironment modulation. World journal of diabetes 2 40585189
2024 A possible role of lncRNA MEG3 and lncRNA MAFG-AS1 on miRNA 147-b in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease. Immunogenetics 2 38985298
2024 The small MAF transcription factor MAFG co-opts MITF to promote melanoma progression. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 2 39282450
2026 MAFG Induces the Methylation of CRYAB to Promote the Activation of A1 Astrocyte After Spinal Cord Injury. Immunity, inflammation and disease 1 41555187
2025 Overexpression of MAFG-AS1 in ovarian cancer promotes glucose metabolism reprogramming and malignant biological behavior of ovarian cancer cells by regulating HIF-1α. Discover oncology 1 40372661
2025 Novel MAFG-METTL14-SCD1 axis regulates lipid metabolism mediating choroidal melanoma distant metastasis. Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR 1 41316357
2024 Inhibition of HMOX1 by MAFG potentiates the development of depression‑like behavior in mice associated with astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation. Brain research 1 38977234
1989 Partial purification of a macrophage-activating factor for glucose consumption (MAF-G) produced by a human T-cell hybridoma and its relation to a growth-promoting factor. Lymphokine research 1 2509820
2026 The MAFG-AS1/G6PD axis reduces platinum sensitivity in colorectal cancer through pentose phosphate pathway activation. Journal of translational medicine 0 41923123
2025 A novel feedback regulation loop of METTL11A-MAFG-NPL4 promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 0 40171788
2025 Extracellular vesicles-derived LncRNA MAFG-AS1 predicts clinical response to pembrolizumab in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma. Molecular biology reports 0 41160238
2025 The MafG/Bach1-Lcn2 transcriptional axis drives ferroptosis in sepsis-induced acute lung injury via disrupting redox homeostasis. Free radical biology & medicine 0 41475687
2020 lncRNA MAFG-AS1 Contributes to Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma Progression via Regulating miR143/LASP1 [Retraction]. OncoTargets and therapy 0 33335407