Phosphorylation of the oncogenic transcription factor ERG in prostate cells dissociates polycomb repressive complex 2, allowing target gene activation.

ABSTRACT: In ∼50% of prostate cancers, chromosomal rearrangements cause the fusion of the promoter and 5'-UTR of the androgen-regulated TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease, serine 2) gene to the open reading frame of ERG, encoding an ETS family transcription factor. This fusion results in expression of full-length or N-terminally truncated ERG protein in prostate epithelia. ERG is not expressed in normal prostate epithelia, but when expressed, it promotes tumorigenesis via altered gene expression, stimulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cellular migration/invasion, and transformation. However, limited knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of ERG function in prostate cells has hampered efforts to therapeutically target ERG. ERK-mediated phosphorylation of ERG is requ

SUBMITTER: Kedage V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5655502 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature