The enigmatic ERH protein: its role in cell cycle, RNA splicing and cancer.
Journal
Protein & cell
Journal Volume
4
Journal Issue
11
Start Page
807-812
ISSN
1674-8018
Date Issued
2013-11
Author(s)
Ji Luo
Abstract
Enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) is a small, highly conserved protein among eukaryotes. Since its discovery nearly 20 years ago, its molecular function has remained enigmatic. It has been implicated to play a role in transcriptional regulation and in cell cycle. We recently showed that ERH binds to the Sm complex and is required for the mRNA splicing of the mitotic motor protein CENP-E. Furthermore, cancer cells driven by mutations in the KRAS oncogene are particularly sensitive to RNAi-mediated suppression of ERH function, and ERH expression is inversely correlated with survival in colorectal cancer patients whose tumors harbor KRAS mutation. These recent findings indicate that ERH plays an important role in cell cycle through its mRNA splicing activity and is critically required for genomic stability and cancer cell survival.
SDGs
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Type
review