# SQSTM1

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/sqstm1/  
OnCo record `sqstm1` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

SQSTM1 (Sequestosome-1) is a gene. The public catalogues list it as a fusion partner, and the evidence so far is association rather than a proven role. Tied to Sarcomas and Osteosarcoma.

## Summary

Molecular adapter required for selective macroautophagy (aggrephagy) by acting as a bridge between polyubiquitinated proteins and autophagosomes. Promotes the recruitment of ubiquitinated cargo proteins to autophagosomes via multiple domains that bridge proteins and organelles in different steps. SQSTM1 first mediates the assembly and removal of ubiquitinated proteins by undergoing liquid-liquid phase separation upon binding to ubiquitinated proteins via its UBA domain, leading to the formation of insoluble cytoplasmic inclusions, known as p62 bodies.

Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.62 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes genetic literature 0.79, affected pathway 0.76, literature 0.99, genetic association 0.12, animal model 0.39).

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: sequestosome 1; Sequestosome-1; p62; p60; p62B; A170; PDB3
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: SQSTM1
- Class: other
- Biology: Molecular adapter required for selective macroautophagy (aggrephagy) by acting as a bridge between polyubiquitinated proteins and autophagosomes. Promotes the recruitment of ubiquitinated cargo proteins to autophagosomes via multiple domains that bridge proteins and organelles in different steps. SQSTM1 first mediates the assembly and removal of ubiquitinated proteins by undergoing liquid-liquid phase separation upon binding to ubiquitinated proteins via its UBA domain, leading to the formation of insoluble cytoplasmic inclusions, known as p62 bodies. SQSTM1 then interacts with ATG8 family proteins on autophagosomes via its LIR motif, leading to p62 body recruitment to autophagosomes, followed by autophagic clearance of ubiquitinated proteins. SQSTM1 is itself degraded along with its ubiquitinated cargos. Also required to recruit ubiquitinated proteins to PML bodies in the nucleus. Location: Cytoplasmic vesicle, autophagosome; Preautophagosomal structure; Cytoplasm, cytosol; Nucleus, PML body (UniProt). Locus 5q35.3 (HGNC).
- Where found: Sarcomas: Open Targets association 0.50 with sarcoma (MONDO_0005089); Osteosarcoma: Open Targets association 0.50 with osteosarcoma (MONDO_0009807)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: UniProt disease notes describe a translocation or gene fusion involving the gene. Evidence tier "association-only" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:11280: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:11280
- UniProt Q13501: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q13501/entry
- NCBI Gene 8878: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/8878
- Ensembl ENSG00000161011: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000161011

## Connected records

- collections: [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)
- cancers: [Osteosarcoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/osteosarcoma/), [Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/sarcoma/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/sqstm1.json