Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 4 (RBBP4), also known as histone-binding protein RBBP4, is a nuclear protein that plays a crucial role in chromatin remodeling and gene expression regulation. It is a member of the WD40 repeat protein family and is involved in various cellular processes, including cell cycle regulation, DNA replication, and repair. RBBP4 is highly conserved across species and is implicated in several human cancers.
RBBP4 is a 425 amino acid protein that contains six WD40 repeats, which are structural motifs involved in protein-protein interactions . These repeats form a beta-propeller structure that allows RBBP4 to interact with multiple proteins within diverse complexes such as the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), and SIN3A . These interactions are essential for its role in chromatin remodeling and histone modification.
RBBP4 is widely implicated in various cancers, including breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, acute myeloid leukemia, glioblastoma, and colon and lung cancers . It functions as a nuclear factor involved in chromatin remodeling and histone assistance within multiple epigenetic complexes. High expression of RBBP4 is associated with aggressive cancer subtypes and poor prognosis. For instance, in breast cancer, RBBP4 shows a negative correlation with estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) but not with HER-2. Its high expression indicates poor prognosis, correlating significantly with lymph node metastasis and shorter overall survival .
RBBP4 interacts with multiple proteins through two distinct binding sites. The top of the donut-shaped seven-bladed beta-propeller fold of RBBP4 binds to proteins such as B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) and histone H3, while a pocket on the side of the WD40 repeats binds to suppressor of zeste 12 (SUZ12), metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), and histone H4 . These interactions are crucial for its role in chromatin remodeling and gene expression regulation.
Given its significant role in cancer, RBBP4 is considered a potential drug target. Recent studies have identified small molecule antagonists that can inhibit the interaction of RBBP4 with its binding partners. For example, the discovery of the small molecule OICR17251, which competes with interacting peptides from proteins such as BCL11A and histone H3, has paved the way for the development of more potent antagonists . These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting RBBP4 in cancer treatment.