ZNF16 is a nucleolar-associated protein that regulates expression of the rDNA and cancer-associated genes.

ABSTRACT: ZNF16 (also known as HZF1 and KOX9) is a multi-C2H2 zinc finger protein first identified via its expression in human T-cells and shown to have a role in blood cell differentiation. ZNF16 was later shown to be ubiquitously expressed in a variety of fetal and adult tissues, suggesting a broader function. In this study, we confirm the ubiquitous expression of ZNF16 in a variety of cancer and non-cancer cell lines and show that ZNF16 depletion reduces cell viability in all cell lines tested. Furthermore, we show that ZNF16 localizes to the nucleolus in a transcription-dependent manner, interacts with the intergenic spacer region of the rDNA and promotes rDNA transcription. Additionally, RNA-seq experiments after ZNF16 depletion revealed that ZNF16 also has roles in a variety of pathways includ

SUBMITTER: George CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632998 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature