RNF20, a member of the really interesting new gene (RING) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, monoubiquitinates histone H2A at K119 or H2B at K120. It functions in multiple biological processes such as transcriptional elongation, DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, chromatin differentiation, and acts as a tumor suppressor [5]. It is also involved in pathways like homologous recombination (HR), epigenetic immunosuppression, and chromosome segregation [1,2,3].

In RNF20-deficient models, several phenotypes were observed. In sepsis models, RNF20 deletion led to increased inflammation through NLRP3 activation, suggesting its role in suppressing inflammation [6]. In oocytes, RNF20-depleted cells showed abnormal spindle and chromosome misalignment, highlighting its role in oocyte meiotic spindle assembly [4]. In cancer, loss of RNF20/40 and H2B monoubiquitination is linked to an aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis [5].

In conclusion, RNF20 plays essential roles in DNA repair, cell division, immune-related processes, and cancer development. Studies using gene-knockout models, such as in sepsis, oocyte development, and cancer research, have revealed its functions in specific disease areas and biological processes, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets.