ERG (gene)

ERG (ETS-related gene) is an

The Mld2 mutation, generated through an ENU mutagenesis screen, was the first non-functional allele of Erg. Homozygous Mld2 is embryonic lethal at day 13.5. Adult mice heterozygous for the Mld2 mutation have hematopoietic stem cell defects.[12] This means that when the ERG gene was not actively transcribed and the ERG protein produced, a mouse's hematopoietic cells were unable to function properly. Since ERG is important to the ability of the hematopoietic cells to function and self-renew, there may be applications in using blood stem cells for tissue repair, transplantation and other therapeutic applications.^[13]

Cancer

This gene can be classified as a

Ewing's sarcoma is associated with chromosomal translocations, which typically results in fusion genes with transcriptional regulators. This means that the protein transcribes for with the gene could be produced in excess or under- produced resulting in unnatural activity in cells. Typically this is the first step in a cell's progression to malignancy. In about 10% of Ewing's Sarcoma cases have an EWS1-ERG fusion.[8]

Fusion with TLS/FUS

In acute myeloid leukemia, the t(16;21) translocation in myeloid leukemia fuses TLS/FUS to ERG which disrupts the natural TLS/FUS RNA binding domain, and instead inserting the ERG DNA binding domain.^[21]

Location

ERG is located on chromosome 21.^[6] The ERG protein is expressed at a similar level throughout the body.^[8]

Interactions

ERG has been shown to

• C-jun^[22]
• ETS2^[23]
• EWSR1^[15]
• FUS^[16]
• TMPRSS2^[19]
• USP9X^[24]

References