Forkhead box protein D2 (FOXD2)

Forkhead box protein D2 (FOXD2) is a member of the evolutionarily conserved forkhead family of transcription factors, defined by a forkhead DNA-binding domain. FOXD2 modulates developmental processes and intracellular signaling, especially in neural and mesoderm tissues, and plays a critical role in T cell activation by regulating components of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway. In human colorectal cancer, FOXD2 functions as a chromatin-tuning factor; it remodels enhancer–promoter interactions and recruits MLL4/KMT2D, thereby inducing H3K4 monomethylation that triggers apoptosis through p53-responsive genes and suppresses tumor growth. FOXD2 dysregulation is linked to various cancers and is proposed as a tumor suppressor, while non-coding RNAs transcribed from the FOXD2 locus (e.g., FOXD2-AS1) act as oncogenic drivers and prognostic biomarkers in multiple tumor types.

Other names

FKHL17FREAC9FREAC-9Forkhead-related protein FKHL17Forkhead-related transcription factor 9forkhead, drosophila, homolog-like 17forkhead-like 17forkhead-related activator 9

As a transcription factor, FOXD2 modulates enhancer/promoter interactions and recruits MLL4/KMT2D, leading to H3K4 monomethylation, chromatin opening, and activation of tumor suppressor genes and apoptosis pathways, especially p53-responsive genes in colorectal cancer