ERH Gene and Its Role in Cancer Cells

Abstract

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. Studies on oncogenes and tumor-targeted therapies have become an important part of cancer treatment development. In this review, we summarize and systematically introduce the gene enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH), which encodes a highly conserved small molecule protein. ERH mainly exists as a protein partner in human cells. It is involved in pyrimidine metabolism and protein complexes, acts as a transcriptional repressor, and participates in cell cycle regulation. Moreover, it is involved in DNA damage repair, mRNA splicing, the process of microRNA hairpins as well as erythroid differentiation. There are many related studies on the role of ERH in cancer cells; however, there are none on tumor-targeted therapeutic drugs or related therapies based on the expression of ERH. This study will provide possible directions for oncologists to further their research studies in this field.

Keywords: enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) gene; oncogenesis factor; protein partner; transcription factor; tumor-targeted therapy.

Figure 1

(A) Ribbon view of ERH monomer. The α-helices and the β-strands are shown in red and in yellow, respectively. (B) View of the main-chain structures in superimposition of the three ERH monomers in the asymmetric unit. Chains (A–C), are colored red, blue, and green, respectively. The superimposition was carried out with the program lsqkab (Kabsch 1976) in CCP4. (C) The conserved casein kinase II (CKII) phosphorylation sites (Thr18 and Ser24) are shown as a blue stick model. (D) Ribbon view of the interface of the ERH dimer. Cited Figures 1A–D (18, 19). This image was generated using PyMOL Molecular Graphics System, Version 2.0 Schrödinger, LLC.

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of the role of ERH proteins as molecular partners in cells. The ERH protein, as a nuclear protein, can interact with many proteins such as DCoH/PCD, SPT5, PDIP46/SKAR, Ciz1, HOTS, SNRPD-3 and DEPDC1B, and involved in many cellular functions like “mRNA solicing”, “Tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced Transcriptional activity”, “Transcription elongation”, “DNA damage repair”, etc.

Figure 3

Schematic diagram of functions ERH protein involved in cells. ERH protein can affect many molecules like MYC, SAFB1/2, and some pathways to have an effect on some functions on “tumorigenesis”, “mRNA splicing and processing”, “pyrimidine metabolism” etc.