The HIVEP gene family encodes for very large sequence-specific DNAbinding proteins containing multiple zinc fingers. Three mammalian paralogous genes have been identified, HIVEP1,-2and -3, as well as the closely related Drosophilagene,Schnurri. These genes have been found to directly participate in the transcriptional regulation of a variety of genes. Mammalian HIVEP members have been implicated in signaling by TNF-aand in the positive selec-tion of thymocytes, whileSchnurrihas been shown to be an essential component of theTGF-bsignalingpathway. .
