WD repeat-containing protein 18 (WDR18)

WD repeat-containing protein 18 (WDR18) is a protein encoded by the WDR18 gene in humans, located on chromosome 19[1][3][5]. It is a member of the WD repeat protein family, which is defined by short sequence motifs that typically facilitate the assembly of large multiprotein complexes—mainly acting as scaffolding proteins, not enzymes[2][3][5]. WDR18 is a core component of several nucleolar complexes, including the rixosome (with LAS1L, PELP1, and TEX10), which is involved in RNA degradation, ribosome biogenesis, and rRNA processing, especially during the maturation of the 28S rRNA and the pre-60S ribosomal subunit[1][4][5]. WDR18 is also part of the Five Friends of Methylated CHTOP (5FMC) complex implicated in transcriptional regulation via the methylation-driven recruitment to ZNF148, resulting in transactivation of its target genes[1][4][5]. Its functions encompass regulation of the cell cycle, signal transduction, apoptosis, gene regulation, and possibly developmental processes, but it has no known catalytic or receptor activity[1][2][3][5]. There are associations between WDR18 and some cancers, but there are no known drugs directly targeting this protein, nor is it generally considered a direct therapeutic target[5].

Other names

Ipi3WD repeat domain 18Involved in Processing ITS2 3 homolog (S. cerevisiae)R32184_1