Sex Comb On Midleg Like Protein 4 (SCML4)

SCML4 is a putative Polycomb group (PcG) protein. Polycomb-group proteins are a family of proteins first discovered in fruit flies that can remodel chromatin such that epigenetic silencing of genes takes place. Polycomb-group proteins are best known for silencing HOX genes through modulation of chromatin structure during embryonic development in fruit flie.

In humans Polycomb Group gene expression is important in many aspects of development. Murine null mutants in PRC2 genes are embryonic lethals while most PRC1 mutants are live born homeotic mutants that die perinatally. In contrast overexpression of PcG proteins correlates with the severity and invasiveness of several cancer types.The mammalian PRC1 core complexes are very similar to Drosophila. Polycomb is known to regulate ink4 locus.