RNF40

The protein encoded by this gene contains a RING finger, a motif known to be involved in protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. This protein was reported to interact with the tumor suppressor protein RB1. Studies of the rat counterpart suggested that this protein may function as an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, and facilitate the ubiquitination and degradation of syntaxin 1, which is an essential component of the neurotransmitter release machinery. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, May 2011]

Full Name

Ring Finger Protein 40

Function

Component of the RNF20/40 E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex that mediates monoubiquitination of 'Lys-120' of histone H2B (H2BK120ub1). H2BK120ub1 gives a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional activation and is also prerequisite for histone H3 'Lys-4' and 'Lys-79' methylation (H3K4me and H3K79me, respectively). It thereby plays a central role in histone code and gene regulation. The RNF20/40 complex forms a H2B ubiquitin ligase complex in cooperation with the E2 enzyme UBE2A or UBE2B; reports about the cooperation with UBE2E1/UBCH are contradictory. Required for transcriptional activation of Hox genes.

Biological Process

Biological Process chromatin organizationIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Biological Process histone H2B conserved C-terminal lysine ubiquitinationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Biological Process histone H2B ubiquitinationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIDA:UniProtKB
Biological Process histone monoubiquitinationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIDA:UniProtKB
Biological Process positive regulation of proteasomal protein catabolic processIEA:Ensembl
Biological Process positive regulation of protein polyubiquitinationIEA:Ensembl
Biological Process response to peptide hormoneIEA:Ensembl
Biological Process ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic processISS:UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Nucleus