EGR转录因子在肿瘤中的研究进展

The latest research progress of EGR transcription factors in the tumors

早期生长反应基因(early growthresponse,EGR)家族包括EGR1、EGR2、EGR3、EGR4 4个成员,能够被多种细胞外的信号分子激活,在细胞内产生级联放大作用。其特点是都包含有一个高度保守的可以与DNA结合的结构域,该结构域由3个相同的锌指结构(Cys2His2)组成,能够特异性识别并与其下游调控基因的启动子区5'-GCGGGGGCG-3'序列结合,发挥转录调控作用。作为EGR家族的重要成员,EGR1在肿瘤的相关研究中较多,可参与肿瘤细胞的增殖、分化、凋亡及侵袭转移等过程。而EGR2、EGR3和EGR4在肿瘤中的研究较少。

The family of EGR（ early growthresponse） genes encodes four finger transcription factors： EGR1,EGR2,EGR3 and EGR4. They are stimulated by many extracellular signaling molecules and represent a convergence point for intracellular signaling cascades. All four proteins exhibit a homologous domain structure,which includes three zinc finger motifs that can be linked to the GC- rich DNA recognition sites,then the target genes are activated or inhibited.As an important protein,EGR1 was researched more than the others in tumors. And it was reported that EGR1 was participated in the proliferation,differentiation,invasion and apoptosis in tumor cells.