Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 38 (ZBTB38)

Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 38 (ZBTB38) is a **transcription factor** belonging to the BTB/POZ (Broad complex, Tramtrack, and Bric-à-brac/Pox virus and Zinc finger) family. It features multiple C2H2 zinc finger domains at its C-terminus and a BTB domain at its N-terminus, conferring the capacity to directly bind methylated CpG DNA motifs as well as E-box sequences[3][5][6][7]. ZBTB38 functions predominantly as a **reader of DNA methylation**, recognizing specific methylated DNA sequences to modulate transcriptional outcomes, typically repressing transcription in a methylation-dependent manner. It can act as both a transcriptional activator and repressor and is implicated in the regulation of genes involved in **cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA replication, and epigenetic stability**[5][1][3]. It plays a role in chromatin remodeling and is involved in developmental processes such as neuronal differentiation and survival. ZBTB38’s dysregulation has been linked to proliferation and migration in some cancers, for example prostate cancer, where its overexpression suppresses tumor cell growth and migration, offering potential relevance as a cancer biomarker or a molecular target, although no clinically approved drugs directly target it[1][5]. Loss-of-function models in mice reveal that ZBTB38 is not essential for basic hematopoiesis or immune responses, but it is involved in regulating gene expression through methylation-sensitive transcriptional repression and activation[2][3]. Several diseases are associated with mutations or altered expression of ZBTB38, including Kuru and acromesomelic dysplasia 2B, though the full spectrum of its pathological roles remains under investigation[5].

Other names

CIBZZNF921FLJ35036PPP1R171protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 171

Not applicable; no drugs currently reported that specifically target ZBTB38.