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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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YBX2
Y-box binding protein 2
Chromosome 17 · 17p13.1
NCBI Gene: 51087Ensembl: ENSG00000006047.14HGNC: HGNC:17948UniProt: A0A384MDP4
46PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Highly Constrained
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
nucleusregulation of gene expressionnucleic acid bindingpositive regulation of cold-induced thermogenesisazoospermiaprimary ovarian insufficiencypartial chromosome Y deletion46,XX testicular disorder of sex development
✦AI Summary

YBX2 is a germ cell-specific Y-box RNA-binding protein that functions as a major constituent of messenger ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs), primarily regulating mRNA stability and translational repression in specialized cell types. In spermatids, YBX2 represses translation of mRNAs encoding proteins for spermatozoa development through position-dependent binding to 3' UTR cis-elements, while simultaneously blocking translation-dependent mRNA decay 1. This function requires dose-dependent cooperation with YBX3, as compound heterozygosity causes sterility through loss of translational repression 2. YBX2 coordinates with m6A reader proteins like YTHDF2 and PRRC2A to modulate mRNA stability and translation efficiency during spermatogenesis and meiosis 34. Beyond reproductive tissues, YBX2 promotes glycolysis in brown adipocytes through phosphorylation-dependent stabilization, enhancing glucose utilization and thermogenesis 5. In endometrial cancer, YBX2 expression maintains cancer stem cell phenotypes and chemoresistance through upregulation of the cancer testis antigen CT45 6. Additionally, YBX2 functions as a novel anti-ROS transcription factor and RNA-binding protein that suppresses proinflammatory gene expression in vascular inflammation associated with hyperlipidemia and chr17 kidney disease 7. These findings establish YBX2 as a multifaceted post-transcriptional regulator with context-dependent roles in fertility, metabolism, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.

Sources cited
1
YBX2 represses mRNA translation in round spermatids through position-dependent binding to 3'UTR cis-elements and blocks translation-dependent mRNA decay
PMID: 26773323
2
Compound heterozygosity for YBX2 and YBX3 causes sterility through loss of translational repression, demonstrating functional redundancy between these proteins
PMID: 26646932
3
PRRC2A interacts with YBX2 and other mRNA metabolism regulators to modulate spermatogenesis and meiosis I completion
PMID: 36964127
4
YBX2 modulates mRNA stability by interacting with m6A reader protein YTHDF2 and facilitates formation of cytoplasmic granules via its mRNA binding domain
PMID: 37030331
5
Phosphorylated YBX2 is stabilized in response to β-adrenergic signaling and promotes glycolysis in brown adipocytes by modulating translation of glycolytic genes
PMID: 37860762
6
YBX2 expression maintains cancer stem cell phenotypes and chemoresistance in endometrial cancer through upregulation of cancer testis antigen CT45
PMID: 33602962
7
YBX2 functions as a novel anti-ROS transcription factor and RNA-binding protein that suppresses proinflammatory genes in vascular inflammation
PMID: 40505347
8
YBX2 is identified as a characterized RNA-binding protein with roles in adipogenesis and adipose tissue function
PMID: 35954201
Disease Associationsⓘ20
azoospermiaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
primary ovarian insufficiencyOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
partial chromosome Y deletionOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
46,XX testicular disorder of sex developmentOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
46,XX gonadal dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Familial hyperprolactinemiaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
familial hyperprolactinemiaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
spinocerebellar ataxia type 32Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
isochromosomy YpOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
chronic kidney diseaseOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 25Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 57Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 50Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
Isolated follicle stimulating hormone deficiencyOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
partial androgen insensitivity syndromeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndromeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 71Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
ring chromosome YOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
spermatogenic failure, X-linked, 2Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
SOHLH1Protein interaction90%NOBOXProtein interaction88%FIGLAProtein interaction87%LHX8Protein interaction85%ZGLP1Shared pathway40%PRDM4Shared pathway40%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Brain
91%
Liver
37%
Heart
20%
Ovary
5%
Lung
2%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
YBX2SOHLH1NOBOXFIGLALHX8ZGLP1PRDM4
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB7F3K · 1.76 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.27Highly Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.13 [0.07–0.27]
RankingsWhere YBX2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #9,400of 20,598
    Most Researched46
  • #885of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.27 · top 5%
Genes detectedYBX2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
The m6A reader PRRC2A is essential for meiosis I completion during spermatogenesis.
PMID: 36964127
Nat Commun · 2023
1.00
2
YBX2 and cancer testis antigen 45 contribute to stemness, chemoresistance and a high degree of malignancy in human endometrial cancer.
PMID: 33602962
Sci Rep · 2021
0.90
3
YBX2 modulates mRNA stability via interaction with YTHDF2 in endometrial cancer cells.
PMID: 37030331
Exp Cell Res · 2023
0.80
4
Position-dependent interactions of Y-box protein 2 (YBX2) with mRNA enable mRNA storage in round spermatids by repressing mRNA translation and blocking translation-dependent mRNA decay.
PMID: 26773323
Mol Reprod Dev · 2016
0.70
5
Phosphorylated YBX2 is stabilized to promote glycolysis in brown adipocytes.
PMID: 37860762
iScience · 2023
0.60