ZBTB38 Gene: Function, Expression, and Role in Cancer | NCBI, UniProt, OMIM

ZBTB38 (zinc finger and BTB domain containing 38) is a protein-coding gene that encodes a transcription factor belonging to the POK (POZ and Krüppel) family. It contains an N-terminal BTB/POZ domain and multiple C-terminal C2H2 zinc finger motifs. ZBTB38 functions as a transcriptional repressor by recruiting histone deacetylases and is involved in the regulation of DNA methylation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. It is implicated in various cancers, including breast, colorectal, and lung cancer, where it can act as an oncogene or tumor suppressor depending on context.

Tissue Expression

Cell Line Expression

Hotspot Mutations

Mutation functional classification

• Transcriptional regulation by ZBTB38

• p53 signaling pathway (via regulation of TP53)

• Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (in colorectal cancer)

ZBTB38 is a 1,209-amino-acid protein with a BTB/POZ domain at the N-terminus and 10 C2H2 zinc finger motifs. It localizes to the nucleus and acts as a transcriptional repressor by binding to specific DNA sequences and recruiting co-repressor complexes such as histone deacetylases. The protein is involved in regulating DNA methylation through interaction with DNMTs and plays roles in cell cycle control, apoptosis, and differentiation. ZBTB38 expression is tissue-specific and frequently dysregulated in cancers, where it can influence tumor progression and patient prognosis.