GATA1 is a member of the GATA family of zinc-finger transcription factors. Members of this family recognize the GATA motif which is present in the promoters of many genes. GATA-1 is erythroid-specific and is responsible for the regulated transcription of erythroid genes. It is an essential component in the generation of the erythroid lineage. Studies with a modified GATA consensus sequence, AGATCTTA, have shown that GATA-2 and GATA-3 recognize this mutated consensus while GATA-1 has poor recognition of this sequence. This indicates broader regulatory capabilities of GATA-2 and GATA-3 than GATA-1. Although expression patterns of the various GATA transcription factors may overlap, it is not yet apparent how the GATA factors are able to discriminate in binding their appropriate target sites.
