This family represents the eukaryotic Fez1 protein. Fez1 contains a leucine-zipper region with similarity to the DNA-binding domain of the cAMP-responsive activating-transcription factor 5 [1]. There is evidence that Fez1 inhibits cancer cell growth through regulation of mitosis, and that its alterations result in abnormal cell growth [2]. Note that some family members contain more than one copy of this region.

1: The FEZ1 gene at chromosome 8p22 encodes a leucine-zipper protein, and its expression is altered in multiple human tumors. Ishii H, Baffa R, Numata SI, Murakumo Y, Rattan S, Inoue H, Mori M, Fidanza V, Alder H, Croce CM; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999;96:3928-3933. PMID:10097140

2: FEZ1/LZTS1 gene at 8p22 suppresses cancer cell growth and regulates mitosis. Ishii H, Vecchione A, Murakumo Y, Baldassarre G, Numata S, Trapasso F, Alder H, Baffa R, Croce CM; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001;98:10374-10379. PMID:11504921