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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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RNF4
ring finger protein 4
Chromosome 4 · 4p16.3
NCBI Gene: 6047Ensembl: ENSG00000063978.18HGNC: HGNC:10067UniProt: P78317
133PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transcription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
PML bodyidentical protein bindingubiquitin protein ligase activityproteasome-mediated ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic processneurodegenerative diseasehematologic diseaseneoplasmcolorectal carcinoma
✦AI Summary

RNF4 (ring finger protein 4) is a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) that recognizes polysumoylated proteins and catalyzes their polyubiquitination for proteasomal degradation 1. As a mammalian STUbL, RNF4 mediates Lys-6-, Lys-11-, Lys-48-, and Lys-63-linked polyubiquitination of sumoylated substrates 1. RNF4 regulates critical cellular processes including DNA replication, where it facilitates replication fork stability and ATR-CHK1 signaling by maintaining proper accumulation of Fanconi anemia proteins and helicases at replication forks 2. In response to PARP1 trapping on chr4, RNF4 ubiquitinates sumoylated PARP1, promoting its removal by the p97/VCP ATPase—a process relevant to PARP inhibitor efficacy in cancer therapy 3. RNF4 functions in stress responses, including arsenic-induced PML body degradation and hypoxia responses 1, and works with the related STUbL TOPORS in complementary fashion to clear sumoylated proteins from chr4 4. RNF4 expression is elevated in multiple human tumor types and supports Myc-driven tumorigenesis by enabling DNA replication 2, positioning RNF4 as a potential therapeutic target in cancer, particularly in c-myc-expressing tumors 2.

Sources cited
1
RNF4 is the mammalian STUbL that mediates ubiquitination of sumoylated proteins and regulates cellular processes including genomic integrity and development
PMID: 31566917
2
RNF4 is essential for normal DNA replication and supports Myc-driven tumorigenesis; RNF4 deletion extends lifespan in oncogenic c-myc expressing mice
PMID: 38530355
3
RNF4 ubiquitinates sumoylated PARP1 following trapping, promoting recruitment of p97 and removal of trapped PARP1 from chromatin
PMID: 35013556
4
RNF4 and TOPORS function as complementary STUbLs in SUMO-dependent DPC repair and arsenic-induced PML body degradation; combined loss is synthetic lethal
PMID: 38649616
⚠Limited data available — This gene has 4 indexed publications. Summary and analysis may be incomplete.
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.28Weak
hematologic diseaseOpen Targets
0.27Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Testicular regression syndromeOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
congenital heart defects, multiple types, 4Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
congenital heart diseaseOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
ventricular septal defect 1Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
Combined hyperlipidemiaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
sarcomaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
hypertriglyceridemia 2Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
dilated cardiomyopathyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
thrombocytopenia with congenital dyserythropoietic anemiaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
bleeding disorder, platelet-type, 24Open Targets
0.03Suggestive
left ventricular noncompactionOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
colon carcinomaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
congenital heart malformationOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
NUP133Protein interaction100%TP53BP1Protein interaction100%RANBP2Protein interaction100%UBE2V2Protein interaction100%DAXXProtein interaction99%UBE2D2Protein interaction99%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Brain
86%
Lung
80%
Ovary
75%
Liver
62%
Heart
60%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
RNF4NUP133TP53BP1RANBP2UBE2V2DAXXUBE2D2
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB2XEU · 1.50 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.58Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
0.88Intermediate
Observed/Expected LoF0.31 [0.18–0.58]
RankingsWhere RNF4 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #3,497of 20,598
    Most Researched133 · top quartile
  • #3,920of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.58 · top quartile
Genes detectedRNF4
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
The ubiquitin-dependent ATPase p97 removes cytotoxic trapped PARP1 from chromatin.
PMID: 35013556
Nat Cell Biol · 2022
1.00
2
RNF4-A Paradigm for SUMOylation-Mediated Ubiquitination.
PMID: 31566917
Proteomics · 2019
0.90
3
The non-cell-autonomous function of ID1 promotes AML progression via ANGPTL7 from the microenvironment.
PMID: 37319434
Blood · 2023
0.80
4
RNF4 sustains Myc-driven tumorigenesis by facilitating DNA replication.
PMID: 38530355
J Clin Invest · 2024
0.70
5
SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases.
PMID: 24018209
Biochim Biophys Acta · 2014
0.60