CBX4 is a multifunctional chromatin regulator that integrates epigenetic silencing mediated by canonical polycomb repressive complex 1 (cPRC1) with post-translational modification mediated by its small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase activity. Through these mechanisms, CBX4 governs diverse physiological processes, including lineage commitment, organogenesis, cellular reprogramming, senescence control, DNA damage response, and immune regulation. Dysregulation of CBX4 disrupts these homeostatic programs and promotes tumorigenesis through multiple routes. Beyond its canonical repressive roles, the interaction of CBX4 with other chromatin modifiers has emerged as a critical determinant of its oncogenic activity. This review synthesizes current evidence on how CBX4 coordinates epigenetic and post-translational regulation in physiological homeostasis and tumorigenesis, with emphasis on its context-dependent regulatory outputs and therapeutic implications.
- Open Access
- Review
Current Study of CBX4 from Physiological Homeostasis to Tumorigenesis
Author Information
Received: 02 Jul 2026 | Revised: 01 Sep 2026 | Accepted: 07 Sep 2026 | Published: 29 Sep 2026
Abstract
Keywords
CBX4 | SUMOylation | epigenetic regulation | physiological homeostasis | tumorigenesis
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