NCBI Summary:
The protein encoded by this gene is a transcription factor with three tandem C2H2-type zinc fingers. Defects in this gene are associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1D (CMT1D), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4E (CMT4E), and with Dejerine-Sottas syndrome (DSS). Multiple transcript variants encoding two different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2008]
General function
DNA binding, Transcription factor
Comment
Cellular localization
Nuclear
Comment
Ovarian function
Follicle development
Comment
Expression regulated by
FSH, LH
Comment
EGR2 is a gonadotropin-induced survival factor that controls the expression of IER3 in ovarian granulosa cells. Jin H et al. (2016) Pituitary gonadotropins are key hormones that orchestrate the growth and development of ovarian follicles. However, limited information is available on intra-ovarian factors that mediate the actions of gonadotropins. In this study, we identified that the early growth response 2 gene (EGR2) is a gonadotropin-inducible gene in granulosa cells of rats and humans. Analysis of consensus EGR-binding elements (EBEs) showed that the immediate early response 3 gene (IER3) is a novel transcriptional target gene of EGR2 as confirmed by the luciferase assay, electrophoretic mobility-shift assay (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and western blot analysis. Overexpression of EGR2 promoted survival of KGN human granulosa-derived cells in which IER3 acts as a mediator; knockdown of EGR2 induced death in KGN cells. Additionally, EGR2 was found to regulate the expression of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1), which belongs to the BCL-2 family of proteins regulating cell survival. Thus, this study identified a novel signaling axis, comprised of gonadotropins-EGR2-IER3, which is important for the survival of granulosa cells during folliculogenesis.//////////////////