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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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HERC4
HECT and RLD domain containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 4
Chromosome 10 · 10q21.3
NCBI Gene: 26091Ensembl: ENSG00000148634.17HGNC: HGNC:24521UniProt: Q5GLZ8
50PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Highly Constrained
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
negative regulation of smoothened signaling pathwaycytosolubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic processprotein ubiquitinationatrial fibrillationmuscle crampplacenta praeviaazoospermia
✦AI Summary

HERC4 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase containing HECT and RLD domains that mediates protein ubiquitination and degradation. As an E3 ligase, HERC4 accepts ubiquitin from E2 enzymes and transfers it to target substrates 1. Physiologically, HERC4 is required for spermatozoon maturation and fertility, participating in cytoplasmic droplet removal during spermatogenesis. Mechanistically, HERC4 regulates diverse cellular processes through selective substrate targeting. In glioblastoma, HERC4 mediates polyubiquitination and degradation of DHODH at K306, with HERC4 activity suppressed by PRR11 to maintain DHODH stability and ferroptosis resistance 2. In multiple myeloma, HERC4 mediates K63-linked polyubiquitination of MafA at K33, suppressing its phosphorylation and transcriptional activity triggered by GSK3β 3. Diseases involve tissue-specific roles: HERC4 overexpression promotes hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and lung cancer progression through destabilization of tumor suppressors like LATS1 456. Conversely, HERC4 suppresses multiple myeloma proliferation 3. In immunotherapy, high HERC4 expression correlates with enhanced melanoma sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors by facilitating antigen presentation 7. Clinically, HERC4 represents a therapeutic target: HERC4 knockdown suppresses cancer cell proliferation and migration, while HERC4-mediated STING degradation via compound AK59 offers potential therapeutic application for STING-related diseases 8.

Sources cited
1
HERC4 belongs to HECT domain-containing ubiquitin ligases that mediate ubiquitination of specific substrates
PMID: 29807510
2
HERC4 mediates polyubiquitination and degradation of DHODH at K306 site to regulate ferroptosis resistance in glioblastoma
PMID: 38838551
3
HERC4 mediates K63-linked polyubiquitination of MafA at K33, suppressing its phosphorylation and transcriptional activity in multiple myeloma
PMID: 37028761
4
HERC4 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes cell proliferation, migration, and reduces apoptosis
PMID: 28430527
5
HERC4 is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis
PMID: 39611657
6
HERC4 is overexpressed in breast cancer and destabilizes LATS1 tumor suppressor by promoting its ubiquitination
PMID: 30710319
7
High HERC4 expression is a sensitive signature for immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment and enhances sensitivity by facilitating antigen presentation
PMID: 38797232
8
HERC4 is a HECT-domain E3 ligase that mediates STING degradation via compound AK59-induced targeted protein degradation
PMID: 38811577
Disease Associationsⓘ20
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.30Weak
muscle crampOpen Targets
0.24Weak
placenta praeviaOpen Targets
0.22Weak
azoospermiaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
spermatogenic failure, X-linked, 5Open Targets
0.07Suggestive
immunodeficiency 88Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 72Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
partial chromosome Y deletionOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 18Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 27Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 46Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 65Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 84Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 93Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 83Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 45Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 49Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 82Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
KCTD6Shared pathway50%KCTD21Shared pathway50%SPMIP7Shared pathway33%CBY3Shared pathway33%ARRDC5Shared pathway33%RNF148Shared pathway33%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Liver
100%
Heart
92%
Lung
87%
Ovary
86%
Bone Marrow
75%
Brain
52%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
HERC4KCTD6KCTD21SPMIP7CBY3ARRDC5RNF148
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q5GLZ8
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.33Highly Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.20 [0.13–0.33]
RankingsWhere HERC4 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #8,821of 20,598
    Most Researched50
  • #1,377of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.33 · top 10%
Genes detectedHERC4
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
A targetable PRR11-DHODH axis drives ferroptosis- and temozolomide-resistance in glioblastoma.
PMID: 38838551
Redox Biol · 2024
1.00
2
Harnessing genetic interactions for prediction of immune checkpoint inhibitors response signature in cancer cells.
PMID: 38797232
Cancer Lett · 2024
0.90
3
HERC4 Is Overexpressed in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Contributes to the Proliferation and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.
PMID: 28430527
DNA Cell Biol · 2017
0.80
4
The ubiquitin ligase HERC4 suppresses MafA transcriptional activity triggered by GSK3β in myeloma by atypical K63-linked polyubiquitination.
PMID: 37028761
J Biol Chem · 2023
0.70
5
METTL3 and HERC4: Elevated Expression and Impact on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression.
PMID: 39611657
Cancer Biother Radiopharm · 2025
0.60