[The biological complexity of Polycomb group proteins: the case of EZH2]

Med Sci (Paris). 2017 May;33(5):499-505. doi: 10.1051/medsci/20173305013. Epub 2017 Jun 14.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Polycomb Group proteins (PcG) are repressive epigenetic factors essential for development and involved in numerous cancer processes, yet their modes of action and recruitment to specific genomic loci are not fully understood. Recently, it has been shown that the PcG protein recruitment is a dynamic process, contrary to what was foreseen in the initial hierarchical model. In addition, EZH2, a key PcG protein, can be associated to transcribed genes, challenging the former function of PcG proteins as transcriptional repressors. Furthermore, the dual role of EZH2, which can act as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending on the cellular type, illustrates the functional complexity of PcG proteins.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Oncogenes / physiology
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein