THAP1 (THAP domain containing, apoptosis associated protein 1) is a 213 amino acid protein that localizes to the nucleoplasm and contains one THAP-type zinc finger, a conserved DNA-binding domain. Interacting with PAR4, THAP1 functions as a pro-apoptotic protein that acts in a zinc-dependent manner and enhances the likelihood of both TNF- and serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis, possibly playing a role in promyelocytic leukemia. The gene encoding THAP1 maps to human chromosome 8, which consists of nearly 146 million base pairs, houses more than 800 genes and is associated with a variety of diseases and malignancies. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Trisomy 8, Pfeiffer syndrome, congenital hypothyroidism, Waardenburg syndrome and some leukemias and lymphomas are thought to occur as a result of defects in specific genes that map to chromosome 8.
