SRY-box transcription factor 21 (SOX21)

SRY-box transcription factor 21 (SOX21) is a DNA-binding transcription factor of the SOX family, characterized by a high-mobility group (HMG) domain. It is implicated in neuronal differentiation, antagonizing other SOX proteins that maintain neural stem cell states, and plays a role in hair follicle formation, with genetic variants linked to congenital hair loss syndromes. SOX21 also contributes to tissue-specific differentiation like ameloblast formation and is associated with multiple human diseases. The antisense RNA transcript, SOX21-AS1, functions as a long non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, migration, EMT, and stemness via diverse signaling pathways. SOX21-AS1 is emerging as a biomarker and therapeutic target, especially in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, modulating drug resistance and disease progression through ceRNA activity and post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms

Other names

SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 21SRY-box 21SOX25

Gene silencing or modulation of RNA expression (for lncRNA SOX21-AS1), modulation of signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT, ERK, Hippo, Wnt/β-catenin), microRNA sponging (e.g., miR-107, miR-132 for SOX21-AS1)