Zinc finger protein 131 inhibits estrogen signaling by suppressing estrogen receptor α homo-dimerization

► ZNF131 directly interacts with ERα. ► The binding affinity of ZNF131 to ERα increases upon E2 stimulation. ► ZNF131 inhibits ERα-mediated trans-activation by suppressing its homo-dimerization. ► ZNF131 inhibits ERα-dimerization and E2-induced breast cancer cell proliferation. ► ZNF131 inhibits estrogen signaling by acting as an ERα-co-repressor.