Makorin ring finger protein 2 (MKRN2)

Makorin ring finger protein 2 (MKRN2) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase within the makorin RING finger protein family, distinguished by multiple zinc finger domains and a RING finger motif. The gene partially overlaps RAF1 in an antisense transcriptional orientation, and may have co-regulatory roles. MKRN2 is expressed in all human tissues, functions in substrate degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and is involved in controlling inflammation (via NF-κB suppression), male fertility/spermatogenesis, apoptosis (interacting with the p53 pathway), and neurogenesis. Disease associations include cancer (particularly melanoma and neuroblastoma), infertility, inflammatory conditions, and various mutation-associated syndromes. While MKRN2 is considered a potential therapeutic target due to its regulatory role in multiple cellular and disease processes, specific drugs or targeted therapies are not currently described in the literature.

Other names

MKRN2Makorin, ring finger protein, 2RNF62E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase makorin-2MKRN2_HUMAN (UniProt)

Not documented; theoretically, inhibitors or modulators would affect MKRN2’s E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, altering substrate degradation and down-stream NF-κB, p53, and cell death pathways