Enables sequence-specific double-stranded DNA binding activity. Involved in defense response to bacterium; determination of adult lifespan; and ecdysis, collagen and cuticulin-based cuticle. Located in chromatin and nucleus. Is expressed in head neurons; hypodermis; pharyngeal cell; and vulval precursor cell. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in autosomal dominant nonsyndromic deafness 28 and posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy 4. Orthologous to human GRHL1 (grainyhead like transcription factor 1); GRHL2 (grainyhead like transcription factor 2); and GRHL3 (grainyhead like transcription factor 3).
WB Description
grh-1 encodes a LSF/GRH transcription factor homolog required for normal cuticular synthesis and embryonic development; both GRH-1 and its Drosophila homolog GRAINYHEAD bind to DNA sites upstream of dbl-1, mab-5, and tdc-1; all three of these target genes are homologs of genes regulated by GRAINYHEAD in Drosophila; grh-1(RNAi) animals die as embryos with soft, defective cuticles, which resembles the phenotype seen in Drosophila grainyhead mutants.