Affinage

MAFG

Transcription factor MafG · UniProt O15525

Length
162 aa
Mass
17.9 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-10
99 papers in source corpus 30 papers cited in narrative 29 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 7/7 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

MAFG is a small bZIP transcription factor that functions as an obligate dimerization module, lacking an intrinsic transactivation domain and dictating the DNA-binding specificity and regulatory output of its partners through its basic region and Maf extended homology region (PMID:11875518). As a homodimer it acts as a transcriptional repressor that depends on SUMO-2/3 conjugation to recruit an HDAC-containing corepressor complex, rather than on simple competitive occupancy of DNA (PMID:16738329). As a heterodimer with CNC-family factors it confers sequence-specific activation at ARE/CsMBE elements: tethered Nrf2–MafG and Nrf1–MafG dimers reconstituted in small-Maf-null cells are each sufficient to drive distinct cytoprotective programs—antioxidant/metabolic genes for Nrf2–MafG and proteasome/ERAD/degradation genes for Nrf1–MafG—both through CsMBE binding (PMID:31383749, PMID:35129372). Genome-wide, Nrf2–MafG co-occupancy marks the bulk of Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective and metabolic loci, and MAFG itself is an Nrf2 target gene, establishing an autoregulatory feedback loop (PMID:15574414, PMID:22965115). MAFG also serves as a tunable transcriptional effector in metabolism and disease: it is an FXR target that represses bile-acid synthesis genes (Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1) (PMID:25651182), a nutrient-responsive repressor of hepatic lncRNAs that restrains glucose metabolism and mTOR activation (PMID:32005828), and in BRAF(V600E) colorectal cancer it is phosphorylated and stabilized by BRAF/MEK/ERK signaling to recruit a BACH1–CHD8–DNMT3B corepressor complex that silences MLH1 and other CIMP genes by CpG hypermethylation (PMID:25219500). In melanoma, MAFG dimerizes with MITF to redirect MITF genomic occupancy and drive dedifferentiation and phenotype switching, and is required for the nevus-to-melanoma transition (PMID:42168173). Genetic ablation in mice causes defective platelet/megakaryocyte formation and behavioral abnormalities, with synthetic lethality and erythroid/megakaryocytic deficiency in combination with mafK, demonstrating functional redundancy among small Maf proteins (PMID:9679061, PMID:10716933).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 12 steps
  1. 1998 High

    Established the foundational principle that MafG is not an autonomous activator but a dimerization partner that modulates a CNC factor, repressing TCF11/Nrf1 transactivation while increasing heterodimer DNA affinity.

    Evidence Binding-site selection, EMSA, and reporter assays with MafG–TCF11 heterodimers

    PMID:9421508

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not resolve whether repression reflects sequestration or active corepressor recruitment
    • Did not address other CNC partners
  2. 1998 High

    In vivo gene ablation defined the physiological requirement for MafG in megakaryocyte/platelet biology and revealed redundancy with MafK, distinguishing essential from compensable small-Maf functions.

    Evidence Single and compound mafG/mafK null mice with phenotypic analysis

    PMID:10716933 PMID:9679061

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not identify the dimer partners driving each phenotype
    • Behavioral abnormality mechanism unexplained
  3. 2002 High

    The NMR structure of the DNA-binding domain explained how the basic region plus Maf extended homology region encode binding specificity, providing the structural basis for partner-dependent site selection.

    Evidence NMR solution structure of MafG residues 1-76

    PMID:11875518

    Open questions at the time
    • No structure of a heterodimer bound to DNA
    • Did not address how partners reshape specificity
  4. 2004 High

    Defined MafG as the obligate partner of Nrf2 at the heme oxygenase/StRE and NQO1 ARE and showed MafG is itself an Nrf2 target, revealing an autoregulatory antioxidant feedback circuit; reciprocal EMSA distinguished repressive (homodimer, Nrf2 heterodimer) from inactive (Nrf1) configurations on the NQO1 ARE.

    Evidence Supershift EMSA, dominant-negative tests, ChIP, reporter assays, and nrf2-null cells

    PMID:11013233 PMID:11356853 PMID:15574414

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not separate cooperative activation from repression mechanistically
    • In vivo physiological weighting of the feedback loop unaddressed
  5. 2006 High

    Resolved the mechanism of homodimer repression, showing it requires SUMO-2/3 conjugation to recruit an HDAC-dependent corepressor rather than passive DNA competition, decoupling repression from activation activity.

    Evidence Transgenic mice and cells with wild-type vs sumoylation-deficient MafG plus HDAC inhibition

    PMID:16738329

    Open questions at the time
    • Identity of the recruited HDAC complex not defined
    • SUMO ligase and deconjugation control unknown
  6. 2012 High

    Genome-wide mapping demonstrated that Nrf2–MafG co-occupancy, not Nrf2 alone, defines the functional cytoprotective and metabolic cistrome, generalizing the heterodimer principle to the whole genome.

    Evidence ChIP-seq for Nrf2 and MafG with motif analysis

    PMID:22965115

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not test sufficiency of the heterodimer in isolation
    • Did not distinguish Nrf1 vs Nrf2 contributions at shared sites
  7. 2019 High

    Tethered-dimer reconstitution in small-Maf-null cells provided direct proof that the Nrf2–MafG heterodimer is sufficient for CsMBE/ARE-dependent activation of cytoprotective genes.

    Evidence Tethered Nrf2–MafG construct in sMaf triple-KO fibroblasts with ChIP-seq

    PMID:31383749

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not address endogenous stoichiometry of free vs tethered dimers
    • Repression activity not modeled in this system
  8. 2022 High

    An analogous tethered Nrf1–MafG dimer showed that partner identity assigns MafG to a distinct proteostasis target repertoire, establishing how one small Maf diversifies output across CNC partners.

    Evidence Tethered Nrf1–MafG construct in sMaf triple-KO cells with ChIP-seq and expression profiling

    PMID:35129372

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism of target discrimination between Nrf1 and Nrf2 dimers unresolved
    • Cellular conditions that bias partner choice unknown
  9. 2014 High

    Linked MafG to oncogenic signaling and epigenetic silencing, showing BRAF/MEK/ERK-driven phosphorylation elevates MAFG to recruit a BACH1–CHD8–DNMT3B complex that hypermethylates and silences CIMP genes including MLH1.

    Evidence RNAi screen, ChIP-seq, reciprocal Co-IP, MEK/ERK inhibition in CRC lines and tumors

    PMID:25219500

    Open questions at the time
    • Phosphorylation sites and how they control stability not fully mapped
    • Generality beyond BRAF-mutant CRC untested here
  10. 2015 High

    Defined MafG as an FXR-induced metabolic repressor controlling bile-acid synthesis, extending its repressor role into nuclear-receptor-driven hepatic physiology.

    Evidence Hepatic gain/loss-of-function in mice plus ChIP-seq and bile-acid profiling

    PMID:25651182

    Open questions at the time
    • Dimer partner mediating bile-acid gene repression not identified
    • Corepressor machinery at these loci undefined
  11. 2020 High

    Two studies expanded MafG's repressor role into nutrient sensing and DNA-methylation-coupled inflammation: hepatic MafG restrains lncRNAs and mTOR during obesity, and astrocyte MafG cooperates with MAT2α to methylate and repress anti-inflammatory programs in CNS autoimmunity.

    Evidence Cistrome/expression profiling with hepatocyte and obese-mouse perturbation; scRNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, methylation analysis, and in vivo CRISPR in EAE/MS

    PMID:32005828 PMID:32051591

    Open questions at the time
    • Upstream signals coupling MafG to MAT2α/SAM methyl-donor flux only partly defined
    • Dimer partners at repressed metabolic loci not identified
  12. 2024 High

    Demonstrated that MafG can rewire a master lineage factor by directly binding MITF, redirecting its occupancy to drive melanoma dedifferentiation and the nevus-to-melanoma transition.

    Evidence Co-IP, ChIP occupancy, and genetic perturbation in melanoma cells, xenografts, and mouse models

    PMID:42168173

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural basis of the MAFG–MITF interaction unknown
    • How MAFG levels are set in melanoma not fully resolved

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • It remains unresolved how MafG's choice among many partners (CNC factors, Bach1, MITF, FosB, MYH9) is governed in a given cell, and how its dual activator/repressor outputs and post-translational control are coordinated across tissues.
  • No mechanism assigning partner choice to cell state
  • No unified model of phosphorylation/SUMO/methylation control over MafG abundance and activity
  • Most non-CNC partner interactions rest on single Co-IP studies

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0140110 transcription regulator activity 7 GO:0060090 molecular adaptor activity 5 GO:0003677 DNA binding 4
Localization
GO:0005634 nucleus 3
Pathway
R-HSA-8953897 Cellular responses to stimuli 5 R-HSA-74160 Gene expression (Transcription) 4 R-HSA-1643685 Disease 3 R-HSA-1430728 Metabolism 2
Partners
BACH1CHD8DNMT3BHIF1AMAT2AMITFNFE2L1NFE2L2

Evidence

Reading pass · 29 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2002 NMR solution structure of the MafG DNA-binding domain (residues 1-76) was determined, revealing three alpha-helices and structural similarity to the C. elegans developmental transcription factor Skn-1; the Maf extended homology region (EHR) together with the basic region defines the DNA-binding specificity of Maf family proteins. NMR spectroscopy Nature structural biology High 11875518
1998 MafG forms heterodimers with the CNC-bZIP factor TCF11/LCR-F1/Nrf1; the MafG–TCF11 heterodimer binds a 5'-TGCTgaGTCAT-3' sequence (identical to the NF-E2/ARE/heme-responsive element) with higher affinity than TCF11 alone, yet MafG interferes with TCF11 transactivation in a dose-dependent manner, acting as a repressor when co-expressed with TCF11. Binding-site selection, EMSA, transient transfection reporter assay, in vitro dimerization Nucleic acids research High 9421508
2000 Overexpressed MafG (and MafK) homodimers bind the NQO1 ARE and negatively regulate ARE-mediated NQO1 and GST Ya gene expression and antioxidant induction in HepG2 cells; MafG-Nrf2 heterodimers also repress, whereas Maf-Nrf1 heterodimers fail to bind the NQO1 ARE and show no repressive effect. Transfection reporter assay, EMSA/band-shift and supershift assays in HepG2 cells The Journal of biological chemistry High 11013233
2001 MafG (together with Nrf2) forms an EMSA complex (complex X) that binds stress-response elements (StREs) in the heme oxygenase-1 promoter; dominant-negative mutants of both Nrf2 and small Maf (but not other bZIP factors) attenuate cobalt-mediated HO-1 gene activation, placing the Nrf2–MafG heterodimer as the functional unit at the StRE. EMSA with antibody supershift, dominant-negative transfection, luciferase reporter assay The Journal of biological chemistry High 11356853
2004 Nrf2 transcriptionally activates the mafG gene through a conserved ARE (Ic-ARE) in the mafG proximal promoter; Nrf2/MafG heterodimer binds the Ic-ARE in vivo (ChIP) and in vitro; DEM fails to induce mafG in nrf2-null cells, establishing an autoregulatory feedback loop. Luciferase reporter assay, ChIP, gel-shift assay, nrf2-null cells The Journal of biological chemistry High 15574414
2004 MafG binding kinetics to six MARE-related sequences were quantified by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging on a DNA array; kinetic values correlated well with EMSA, validating SPR imaging as a method for comprehensive TF–DNA interaction analysis and confirming sequence-specific binding affinities of MafG. SPR imaging on double-stranded DNA array, EMSA Genes to cells Medium 15009092
2006 MafG is conjugated to SUMO-2/3 in vivo; sumoylation-deficient MafG retains normal heterodimer (p45-dependent) activation but loses transcriptional repression activity in vivo; SUMO-dependent repression by MafG is sensitive to histone deacetylase inhibition, indicating MafG homodimer repression requires SUMO-mediated recruitment of an HDAC-containing repressor complex rather than simple competitive DNA binding. Transgenic mice and cultured cells with wild-type vs. sumoylation-deficient MafG mutant; HDAC inhibitor treatment Molecular and cellular biology High 16738329
2008 MafG physically interacts with HIF-1α (identified by yeast two-hybrid, confirmed by SPR and co-localization); MafG knockdown reduces nuclear accumulation of HIF-1α without changing total HIF-1α protein levels, thereby reducing EPO mRNA and HRE-reporter activity, indicating MafG retains HIF-1α in the nucleus to support hypoxic gene activation. Yeast two-hybrid, SPR, nuclear co-localization (nucleolus with NoLS), siRNA knockdown, luciferase reporter, RT-PCR FEBS letters Medium 18538669
2012 Genome-wide ChIP-seq in cells identified co-occupied Nrf2–MafG binding sites enriched for ARE motifs in species-conserved regions; co-occupied sites showed higher enrichment than Nrf2-only sites, and the majority of Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective genes and also glucose metabolism/amino acid transporter genes were located near Nrf2–MafG co-binding sites, demonstrating broad genome-wide cooperative regulation. ChIP-seq for Nrf2 and MafG Nucleic acids research High 22965115
2014 In BRAF(V600E) CRC cells, MAFG is phosphorylated and elevated via BRAF/MEK/ERK signaling; elevated MAFG binds promoters of MLH1 and other CIMP genes and recruits a corepressor complex containing its heterodimeric partner BACH1, the chromatin remodeling factor CHD8, and DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B, leading to CpG hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing of those genes. RNAi screen, ChIP-seq, co-immunoprecipitation, pharmacological MEK/ERK inhibition, CRC cell lines and tumor specimens Molecular cell High 25219500
2015 MAFG is an FXR target gene; hepatic MAFG overexpression represses bile acid synthesis genes (Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1) and alters biliary bile acid composition; MafG(+/-) haploinsufficiency de-represses these same genes with concordant bile acid changes; ChIP-seq identified functional MAFG response elements in bile acid metabolism gene regulatory regions. Gain-of-function (overexpression), loss-of-function (MafG+/- mice), ChIP-seq, bile acid profiling Cell metabolism High 25651182
2005 MafG forms heterodimers with FosB in the nucleus; decreasing extracellular pH from 7.40 to 6.80 enhances MafG–FosB dimerization and augments binding of the heterodimer to AP-1 consensus sequences, leading to increased MMP-1 transcription. Immunofluorescence co-localization, co-immunoprecipitation/protein binding, EMSA, RT-PCR Journal of cellular physiology Medium 15828020
2019 A tethered Nrf2–MafG heterodimer (T-N2G), introduced into small Maf triple-knockout fibroblasts, specifically activates Nrf2 target cytoprotective genes (but not Nrf1 targets such as proteasome subunit genes) and preferentially binds CNC-sMaf binding element (CsMBE) motifs genome-wide, providing direct evidence that the Nrf2–MafG heterodimer is sufficient for ARE/CsMBE-dependent transcriptional activation. Tethered dimer construct in sMaf triple-KO cells, genome-wide ChIP-seq, gene expression analysis Molecular and cellular biology High 31383749
2022 A tethered Nrf1–MafG heterodimer (T-N1G) specifically activates proteasome subunit genes and genes involved in ER-associated degradation, chaperone, and ubiquitin-mediated degradation pathways through CsMBE binding, demonstrating that Nrf1–MafG heterodimer has a distinct target gene repertoire from Nrf2–MafG; under strong induction, Nrf1 can also activate canonical Nrf2 target genes. Tethered dimer construct in sMaf triple-KO cells, genome-wide ChIP-seq, gene expression analysis Molecular and cellular biology High 35129372
2020 In EAE and multiple sclerosis astrocytes, increased MAFG expression cooperates with MAT2α to promote DNA methylation and repress antioxidant/anti-inflammatory transcriptional programs; GM-CSF signaling in astrocytes drives MAFG and MAT2α expression and pro-inflammatory transcriptional modules; in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 perturbation of MAFG modulates CNS pathology in EAE. Single-cell RNA-seq, Ribotag RNA profiling, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, genome-wide DNA methylation analysis, in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 genetic perturbation Nature High 32051591
2020 MAFG signaling during diet-induced obesity represses hepatic lncRNA expression; silencing Mafg in mouse hepatocytes and obese mice elicits a fasting-like gene expression profile, improves glucose metabolism, de-represses lncRNAs, and impairs mTOR activation, placing MAFG as a nutrient-sensitive transcriptional repressor in hepatic glucose metabolism. Gain-of-function (overexpression), RNAi-mediated knockdown in mouse hepatocytes and obese mice, global cistrome analysis, gene expression profiling Nature communications High 32005828
2018 LCA (lithocholic acid) activates MAFG expression through AP-1, NF-κB, and E-box sites in its promoter; MAT2A overexpression increases MAFG promoter activity whereas MAT1A decreases it; MAFG directly interacts with MATα1 and occupies E-box elements to repress transcription; SAMe and UDCA reduce MAFG expression by shared and distinct mechanisms. Transfection reporter assay, EMSA, ChIP, siRNA knockdown, overexpression, mouse cholestasis models Gastroenterology High 29733835
2024 MafG physically interacts with non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIa (MYH9) to form a transcriptional complex that activates LCN2 expression; site-directed mutation of the MARE motif in the LCN2 promoter blocks MafG binding; MafG knockdown increases hepatic stellate cell ferroptosis and re-expression of LCN2 in MafG-knockdown HSCs restores ferroptosis resistance; HSC-specific AAV6-mediated MafG knockdown promotes ferroptosis and alleviates liver fibrosis in BDL mice. Co-immunoprecipitation, site-directed mutagenesis of MARE motif, ChIP, siRNA/overexpression, AAV-mediated in vivo knockdown, BDL mouse model Cell death and differentiation High 38871948
1998 Germline ablation of mafG in mice results in impaired platelet formation with megakaryocyte proliferation defects and behavioral abnormalities; mafK-null mice are phenotypically normal; compound mafG/mafK knockouts show synthetic lethality and exacerbated erythroid and megakaryocytic deficiencies, demonstrating in vivo functional redundancy between small Maf proteins. Gene targeting (null alleles replacing coding sequences with lacZ), phenotypic analysis of KO mice Genes & development High 10716933 9679061
2023 In melanoma, YAP inactivation (triggered by soft matrix/low mechanical force via integrin β8–RhoGDI1–RhoA pathway) relieves YAP-mediated inhibition of MAFG, allowing MAFG to transactivate stemness genes NANOG, SOX2, and NESTIN; MAFG inactivation also restores β8 expression, forming a closed mechanical feedback loop. Gene silencing, overexpression, mechanotransduction assays (soft vs. stiff matrices), reporter assays Research (Washington, D.C.) Medium 37614365
2025 MafG forms a functional heterodimer with Bach1 that directly engages the Lcn2 promoter and drives its transcriptional activation; MafG overexpression promotes ferroptosis via iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation in alveolar epithelial cells, and MafG knockdown (via AAV-shMafG) mitigates lung injury and improves survival in sepsis models; the natural compound Anemoside B4 was identified as a MafG inhibitor by SPR. Co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, luciferase reporter assay, siRNA/AAV knockdown, in vivo sepsis model (CLP), SPR Free radical biology & medicine Medium 41475687
2024 MAFG expression is upregulated in spinal cord injury (SCI) astrocytes; MAFG binds the CRYAB promoter and promotes its methylation (involving DNMT3b); MAFG silencing inhibits A1 astrocyte activation and neuroinflammation and improves functional recovery after SCI; 5-Aza (methylation inhibitor) further inhibited A1 activation, while DNMT3b overexpression reversed MAFG-silencing effects. Rat SCI model, ACM/LPS astrocyte model, siRNA knockdown, RT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, functional behavior scores Immunity, inflammation and disease Medium 41555187
2021 In bladder cancer cells, MAFG transcriptionally activates MAFG-AS1 expression; MAFG-AS1 in turn recruits histone acetyltransferase p300 to promote H3K27ac at the MAFG genomic locus, forming a positive feedback loop. ChIP, luciferase reporter assay, siRNA/overexpression, co-immunoprecipitation in bladder cancer cells Science bulletin Medium 36654385
2025 MAFG directly activates METTL14 expression in choroidal melanoma; MAFG-METTL14-SCD1 axis promotes lipid remodeling and membrane fluidity driving metastasis; MAFG was shown to transcriptionally activate METTL14 as part of this axis. Multiplex immunohistochemistry, transcriptomics, lipidomics, METTL14 silencing, mechanistic pathway validation Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research Low 41316357
2023 MAFG and NFE2L1 (NRF1) bind to a locus (locus 22) in the PD-L1 super-enhancer to drive PD-L1 expression; silencing MAFG reduces BRD4 binding and chromatin loop formation at the PD-L1 locus but has minimal effect on H3K27Ac; MAFG/NFE2L1-silenced cells fail to upregulate PD-L1 in response to LPS and cannot escape T cell-mediated killing. CRISPR-Cas9 saturated screening, genetic silencing, ChIP for BRD4/H3K27Ac, 3D chromatin conformation (loop formation), T cell killing assay Oncogenesis Medium 37985752
2024 MAFG directly interacts with MITF in melanoma cells; this MAFG–MITF complex redirects MITF genomic occupancy and modulates MITF-governed transcriptional programs, promoting melanoma dedifferentiation and phenotype switching to a more stem-like state; genetic perturbation in vitro and in vivo shows MAFG is required for the transition from nevi to melanoma. Co-immunoprecipitation, ChIP/genomic occupancy analysis, overexpression, genetic KO/KD, xenograft models, genetic mouse models of melanoma Nature communications High 42168173
2021 In osteosarcoma cells, MAFG forms a heterodimer with Nrf2 and promotes binding to the ARE to activate Nrf2 target genes; MAFG silencing or knockout inhibits OS cell growth, proliferation, and migration while inducing oxidative injury and apoptosis; miR-4660 directly binds the 3'UTR of MAFG mRNA to suppress MAFG expression and OS progression. MAFG siRNA/KO, overexpression, 3'UTR luciferase assay, in vivo xenograft (subcutaneous and orthotopic) Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids Medium 33868783
2022 MAFG interacts with METTL11A protein; METTL11A prevents MAFG degradation through K6 methylation modification; MAFG and NRF2 together bind the promoter region of NPL4 to promote its transcription, forming a METTL11A-MAFG-NPL4 positive feedback loop that promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation. Co-immunoprecipitation, ChIP, luciferase reporter assay, transcriptome sequencing, in vitro and in vivo proliferation assays FASEB journal Medium 40171788
2024 MAFG binds the HMOX1 (HO-1) promoter and represses its transcription in astrocytes; MAFG knockdown in a mouse CUMS depression model reduces A1 astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation via restoration of HMOX1 expression; HMOX1 knockdown recapitulates MAFG-driven neuroinflammation. ChIP (MAFG binding to HMOX1 promoter), siRNA knockdown, CUMS mouse model, RT-PCR, Western blot Brain research Medium 38977234

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 99 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
2020 MAFG-driven astrocytes promote CNS inflammation. Nature 382 32051591
2012 Nrf2-MafG heterodimers contribute globally to antioxidant and metabolic networks. Nucleic acids research 361 22965115
2016 Small Maf proteins (MafF, MafG, MafK): History, structure and function. Gene 199 27058431
2014 The BRAF oncoprotein functions through the transcriptional repressor MAFG to mediate the CpG Island Methylator phenotype. Molecular cell 184 25219500
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
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
2021 MAFG-AS1/MAFG positive feedback loop contributes to cisplatin resistance in bladder urothelial carcinoma through antagonistic ferroptosis. Science bulletin 43 36654385
2002 Solution structure of the DNA-binding domain of MafG. Nature structural biology 42 11875518
2020 A MAFG-lncRNA axis links systemic nutrient abundance to hepatic glucose metabolism. Nature communications 41 32005828
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 41 33098638
2020 MAFG-AS1 promotes tumor progression via regulation of the HuR/PTBP1 axis in bladder urothelial carcinoma. Clinical and translational medicine 40 33377647
2024 MafG/MYH9-LCN2 axis promotes liver fibrosis through inhibiting ferroptosis of hepatic stellate cells. Cell death and differentiation 38 38871948
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
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 MAFG-driven osteosarcoma cell progression is inhibited by a novel miRNA miR-4660. Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids 32 33868783
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
2022 AKR1C3 regulated by NRF2/MAFG complex promotes proliferation via stabilizing PARP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 30 35773412
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
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 25 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
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 23 32801913
2021 LncRNA MAFG-AS1 promotes the malignant phenotype of ovarian cancer by upregulating NFKB1-dependent IGF1. Cancer gene therapy 22 34035482
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 MAFG-AS1 aggravates the progression of pancreatic cancer by sponging miR-3196 to boost NFIX. Cancer cell international 19 33298078
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
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.) 16 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
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 15 34535081
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
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
1997 Molecular characterization and localization of the human MAFG gene. Genomics 13 9286713
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
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
2024 LncRNA NEAT1/miR-146a-5p Axis Restores Normal Angiogenesis in Diabetic Foot Ulcers by Targeting mafG. Cells 8 38474419
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
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 A possible role of lncRNA MEG3 and lncRNA MAFG-AS1 on miRNA 147-b in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease. Immunogenetics 3 38985298
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 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 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 1 40171788
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
2025 The MafG/Bach1-Lcn2 transcriptional axis drives ferroptosis in sepsis-induced acute lung injury via disrupting redox homeostasis. Free radical biology & medicine 1 41475687
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
2026 A MAFG~MITF complex drives melanoma phenotype switching and progression. Nature communications 0 42168173
2025 Extracellular vesicles-derived LncRNA MAFG-AS1 predicts clinical response to pembrolizumab in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma. Molecular biology reports 0 41160238
2020 lncRNA MAFG-AS1 Contributes to Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma Progression via Regulating miR143/LASP1 [Retraction]. OncoTargets and therapy 0 33335407

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