BEN domain–containing protein 3 (BEND3)

BEN domain–containing protein 3 (BEND3) is a multi-BEN domain, chromatin-associated transcriptional repressor highly conserved among vertebrates. It binds mainly to unmethylated CpG islands at gene promoters and represses transcription by recruiting chromatin remodeling complexes such as NoRC, NuRD, and Polycomb repressive complexes (PRC2), facilitating the deposition of repressive histone marks (notably H3K27me3) and maintaining heterochromatic states[1][2][3][4]. BEND3 is highly expressed in pluripotent and cycling cells, downregulated during differentiation, and is essential for safeguarding pluripotency through repression of differentiation-inducing and cell cycle inhibitory genes such as CDKN1A (p21)[1]. It plays critical roles in chromatin organization, rDNA transcriptional silencing, and genome stability. Loss of BEND3 leads to derepression of differentiation markers and cell cycle exit, highlighting its gatekeeper function in stemness and development[1][2][3]. Direct links to specific drugs or use as a clinical biomarker remain unreported; however, aberrant function or mutations in the BEN domain family (including BEND3) are associated with cancer and potentially developmental diseases[3][4].

Other names

KIAA1553BANPE5RNac1 (BEN) domain 3BEN domain-containing protein 3BEN domain containing 3