PR domain zinc finger protein 4 (PRDM4)

PR domain zinc finger protein 4 (PRDM4) is a transcription factor in the PR-domain family, characterized by one PR domain and multiple zinc finger motifs. It regulates cell proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation—critical in development and tumorigenesis. PRDM4 acts mainly as a tumor suppressor in certain cancers (e.g., cervical, gastric) by inducing cell cycle arrest and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through direct transactivation of PTEN, but may promote invasion/metastasis in other tissues (e.g., pancreatic cancer). It also recruits protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), mediating histone arginine methylation essential for transcriptional regulation. PRDM4’s variable functions reflect complex control of gene expression and cell fate in both normal development and disease contexts. No approved drugs directly target PRDM4; its role as a biomarker and therapeutic target is still under investigation, and its diverse, tissue-specific functions require careful therapeutic consideration.

Other names

PR/SET domain 4PR domain-containing protein 4PFM1PR-domain zinc-finger protein PFM1PR domain 4PR domain containing 4

Drugs/compounds that modulate PRDM4 affect the PI3K/AKT pathway via PTEN transactivation; this, in turn, regulates cell proliferation and tumorigenicity Experimental silencing and activation approaches used in cancer cell models