Zinc finger protein 382 (ZNF382)

Zinc finger protein 382 (ZNF382) is a member of the KRAB (Krüppel-associated box) domain-containing C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factors, the largest family of transcriptional regulators in mammals[4][1]. ZNF382 functions primarily as a transcriptional repressor, playing critical roles in the regulation of cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis[4][2][3][6]. In normal tissues, ZNF382 is broadly expressed, but it is frequently silenced in multiple tumor types (such as esophageal, nasopharyngeal, colon, gastric, breast cancers, and pediatric acute myeloid leukemia) due to promoter CpG methylation, suggesting a tumor suppressor function[2][3][6][7]. Functionally, ZNF382 represses the expression of multiple oncogenes by binding to their promoters, inhibiting signaling pathways including NF-κB, AP-1, and Wnt/β-catenin, and promoting apoptosis in cancer cells[2][3][6]. No pharmaceuticals are currently known to modulate ZNF382 directly, but its promoter methylation status is investigated as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in several cancers[2][7].

Other names

KRAB/zinc finger suppressor protein 1KS1FLJ14686Multiple zinc finger and Krüppel-associated box protein KS1

ZNF382's mechanism of action involves epigenetic silencing of oncogenes via heterochromatin formation, transcriptional repression by direct promoter binding (e.g., FZD1, DVL2), and inhibition of oncogenic signaling pathways (NF-κB, AP-1, Wnt/β-catenin).