A novel epidermal growth factor receptor variant lacking multiple domains directly activates transcription and is overexpressed in tumors.

ABSTRACT: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is essential to multiple physiological and neoplastic processes via signaling by its tyrosine kinase domain and subsequent activation of transcription factors. EGFR overexpression and alteration, including point mutations and structural variants, contribute to oncogenesis in many tumor types. In this study, we identified an in-frame splice variant of the EGFR called mini-LEEK (mLEEK) that is more broadly expressed than the EGFR and is overexpressed in several cancers. Unlike previously characterized EGFR variants, mLEEK lacks the extracytoplasmic, transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains. mLEEK localizes in the nucleus and functions as a transcription factor to regulate target genes involved in the cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

SUBMITTER: Piccione EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3368095 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature