MTURN (Maturin, Neural Progenitor Differentiation Regulator Homolog) is located on human chromosome 7p14.3. The MTURN (also known as Ells1; C7orf41) gene is conserved in chimpanzee, cow, rat, chicken, zebrafish, and frog. 225 organisms have orthologs with human gene MTURN. The MTURN protein is biasedly expressed in brain, fat and other tissues. MTURN promotes megakaryocyte differentiation by enhancing ERK and JNK signaling as well as up-regulating RUNX1 and FLI1 expression. MTURN represses NF-kappa-B transcriptional activity by inhibiting phosphorylation of RELA at 'Ser-536'. MTURN may be involved in early neuronal development. High MTURN expression is associated with lung cancer.