EZH2
MIM.601573 MIM.601573
Ezh2 is a polycomb group protein. EZH2 is known to function in histone methylation, thereby regulating gene expression.
Ezh2-containing complex has been given an additional role in cellular regulation. Cytosolic Ezh2 methyltransferase complexes were shown to associate with Vav1 and control receptor-induced actin polymerization and proliferation in a methylation-dependent manner.
Overall, lysine methylation is a posttranslational modification crucial for receptor-mediated signal transduction events.
Pathology
Polycomb gene products play a crucial role in the development of highly malignant phenotypes and aggressive cancer progression in a variety of cancers.
Overexpression of the polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) has been found in several malignancies, including prostate cancer, with an aggressive phenotype.
Amplification of the gene has previously been demonstrated in several malignancies.
The gene for polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is amplified in late-stage prostate cancer (#16575874#).
- The amplification of the EZH2 gene is rare in early prostate cancer, whereas a fraction of late-stage tumors contains the gene amplification leading to the overexpression of the gene, thus indicating the importance of EZH2 in the progression of prostate cancer (#16575874#).
References
Distinct expression of polycomb group proteins EZH2 and BMI1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Yonemitsu Y, Imazeki F, Chiba T, Fukai K, Nagai Y, Miyagi S, Arai M, Aoki R, Miyazaki M, Nakatani Y, Iwama A, Yokosuka O. Hum Pathol. 2009 Apr 20. PMID: #19386347#
Saramaki OR, Tammela TL, Martikainen PM, Vessella RL, Visakorpi T. The gene for polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is amplified in late-stage prostate cancer. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2006 Jul;45(7):639-45. PMID: #16575874#
The Ezh2 methyltransferase complex: actin up in the cytosol. Trends Cell Biol. 2005 Oct;15(10):514-7. PMID: #16126384#