GATA proteins comprise a group of transcription factors that are related by the presence of conserved zinc finger DNA-binding domains, which bind directly to the nucleotide sequence core element GATA . There are six vertebrate GATA proteins, designated GATA-1 to GATA-6 . GATA-6 plays a critical role in endoderm development . It is essential for development of the heart, gut, and other organs . Knock out of GATA-6 is embryonic lethal due to defects in formation of the heart tube and a failure to develop extraembryonic endoderm . Loss of expression, or loss of nuclear localization of GATA-6 is apparent in a large number of ovarian tumors .
