Transcription factor whose activation results in up-regulation of target genes, such as IGFII, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation: when overexpressed in cultured cells, higher proliferation rate and transformation are observed. Other target genes such as CRLF1, CRABP2, CRIP2, PIGF are strongly induced in cells with PLAG1 induction. Proto-oncogene whose ectopic expression can trigger the development of pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary gland and lipoblastomas. Cooperates with CBFB-MYH11. Interacts with KPNA2, which escorts protein to the nucleus via interaction with nuclear localization signal. Interacts with E3 SUMO-protein ligase PIAS1, PIAS2 and PIAS4 (By similarity). Strong nucleolar localization when sumoylation is inhibited. Expressed in heart, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, testis and epididymis but not in salivary glands. High fetal expression with a strong decline after birth. Expressed at 9.5 dpc and 10.5 dpc in nervous system with highest level in telencephalon, diencephalon, and midbrain, as well as regionalized expression in the neural tube, which is characteristic of genes involved in the specification of neuronal fates. C2H2-type zinc fingers 3 interacts with DNA-binding site G-clusterinc fingers. C2H2-type zinc fingers 6 and 7 interact with DNA-binding site core sequence (By similarity). Sumoylated with SUMO1; which inhibits transcriptional activity, but does not affect nuclear localization. Blockers of sumoylation pathway such as SENP3 and inactive UBE2I increases transcriptional capacity. Sumoylation is increased in the presence of PIAS1 (By similarity). Acetylated by lysine acetyltransferase EP300; which activates transcriptional capacity. Lysine residues that are sumoylated also seem to be target for acetylation (By similarity). Mice exhibit growth retardation with lower birth weight and disproportionally small seminal vesicles and ventral prostate as well as decreased fertility in both male and female. However, IGFII expression is normal in embryos. Mice overexpressing Plag1 develop normally with high Plag1 transgene expression in salivary glands, spleen and weak mammary gland detection. They develop salivary gland tumors with major pathological features of human pleimorphic adenomas at the age of 1-5 months. Mice with Plag1 overexpression targeted to salivary and mammary gland develop multifocal salivary gland tumors with pathological features of human pleimorphic adenomas at the age of 5 weeks, as well as mammary gland tumors at the age of 1 year. Plag1 overexpression in salivary gland are accompanied by increased IGFII expression. Besides features characteristic of benign pleimorphic adenomas, malignant characteristics are also observed in salivary gland tumors as well as metastasis to the lungs, reinforcing the tumorigenic role of Plag1. Neonate mice carrying a human myeloid leukemia translocation-associated fusion gene CBFB-MYH11, injected with a retrovirus (4070A), develop the pathology within 2-5 months due to few viral insertions in some genes, such as PLAG1. Insertions near the transcription start site of PLAG1 are predominant in the related tumors and probably participate in the transformation process. Plag1 is one candidate gene that can cooperate with CBFB-MYH11 for leukemogenesis in this mouse model. Belongs to the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family.