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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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RNF121
ring finger protein 121
Chromosome 11 · 11q13.4
NCBI Gene: 55298Ensembl: ENSG00000137522.18HGNC: HGNC:21070UniProt: C9JQY5
28PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
ERAD pathwayubiquitin protein ligase activityGolgi membraneendoplasmic reticulum membraneneurodegenerative diseasecolorectal carcinomaneoplasmneuroblastoma
✦AI Summary

RNF121 is a Golgi-localized E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates protein stability and signaling through ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathways 1. While the UniProt database suggests involvement in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), human RNF121 predominantly localizes to the Golgi apparatus rather than the ER 1, where it functions as a quality control factor 2. The protein's RING domain is essential for its catalytic activity 1. Mechanistically, RNF121 regulates multiple cellular processes through distinct substrates. It directly binds and stabilizes MYCN protein in neuroblastoma, enhancing oncogenic signaling 3, while promoting ubiquitination of VEGFR-2 to restrict its cell surface expression and angiogenic signaling 4. RNF121 facilitates polyubiquitination of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a to promote NF-κB activation 5 and regulates AAV genome transcription through a network involving VCP and DNA damage response elements 6. Disease relevance is substantial: high RNF121 expression associates with poor prognosis in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma and laryngeal cancer 3, while RNF121 acts as a tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma 7. In SARS-CoV-2 infection, RNF121-mediated ubiquitination contributes to excessive NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokine production 5. RNF121 depletion enhances cisplatin sensitivity in non-small-cell lung cancer 8, suggesting therapeutic potential.

Sources cited
1
RNF121 is a Golgi-localized E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates protein stability and signaling through ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathways .
PMID: 24928685
2
While the UniProt database suggests involvement in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), human RNF121 predominantly localizes to the Golgi apparatus rather than the ER , where it functions as a quality control factor .
PMID: 35165458
3
It directly binds and stabilizes MYCN protein in neuroblastoma, enhancing oncogenic signaling , while promoting ubiquitination of VEGFR-2 to restrict its cell surface expression and angiogenic signaling .
PMID: 39402275
4
It directly binds and stabilizes MYCN protein in neuroblastoma, enhancing oncogenic signaling , while promoting ubiquitination of VEGFR-2 to restrict its cell surface expression and angiogenic signaling .
PMID: 26602861
5
RNF121 facilitates polyubiquitination of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a to promote NF-κB activation and regulates AAV genome transcription through a network involving VCP and DNA damage response elements .
PMID: 35856559
6
RNF121 facilitates polyubiquitination of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a to promote NF-κB activation and regulates AAV genome transcription through a network involving VCP and DNA damage response elements .
PMID: 31386698
7
Disease relevance is substantial: high RNF121 expression associates with poor prognosis in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma and laryngeal cancer , while RNF121 acts as a tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma .
PMID: 30149063
8
RNF121 depletion enhances cisplatin sensitivity in non-small-cell lung cancer , suggesting therapeutic potential.
PMID: 34387608
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.37Weak
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
neuroblastomaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
head and neck squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
influenza A (H1N1)Open Targets
0.02Suggestive
renal cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
colorectal cancerOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Barrett's esophagusOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
esophageal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
lung cancerOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
coronary artery diseaseOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Miyoshi myopathyOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
polycystic ovary syndromeOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 1Open Targets
0.00Suggestive
viral diseaseOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
UBXN4Shared pathway100%FAM8A1Shared pathway100%RNF175Shared pathway100%TMUB1Shared pathway100%SEL1L2Shared pathway100%FOXRED2Shared pathway100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Liver
93%
Ovary
81%
Bone Marrow
68%
Lung
68%
Brain
52%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
RNF121UBXN4FAM8A1RNF175TMUB1SEL1L2FOXRED2
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q9H920
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.64LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.29Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.41 [0.27–0.64]
RankingsWhere RNF121 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #12,433of 20,598
    Most Researched28
  • #4,626of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.64
Genes detectedRNF121
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Golgi-localized Ring Finger Protein 121 is necessary for MYCN-driven neuroblastoma tumorigenesis.
PMID: 39402275
Commun Biol · 2024
1.00
2
Really interesting new gene finger protein 121 is a novel Golgi-localized membrane protein that regulates apoptosis.
PMID: 24928685
Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) · 2014
0.90
3
Ring finger protein 121 is a potent regulator of adeno-associated viral genome transcription.
PMID: 31386698
PLoS Pathog · 2019
0.80
4
Ubiquitination of SARS-CoV-2 NSP6 and ORF7a Facilitates NF-κB Activation.
PMID: 35856559
mBio · 2022
0.70
5
Structure of human glycosylphosphatidylinositol transamidase.
PMID: 35165458
Nat Struct Mol Biol · 2022
0.60