The FEZ1 gene at chromosome 8p22 encodes a leucine-zipper protein, and its expression is altered in multiple human tumors
- Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Mar 30;96(7):3928-33. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.7.3928.
- 1. Kimmel Cancer Institute, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Alterations of human chromosome 8p occur frequently in many Tumors. We identified a 1.5-Mb common region of allelic loss on 8p22 by allelotype analysis. cDNA selection allowed isolation of several genes, including FEZ1. The predicted Fez1 protein contained a leucine-zipper region with similarity to the DNA-binding domain of the cAMP-responsive activating-transcription factor 5. RNA blot analysis revealed that FEZ1 gene expression was undetectable in more than 60% of epithelial Tumors. Mutations were found in primary esophageal cancers and in a Prostate Cancer cell line. Transcript analysis from several FEZ1-expressing Tumors revealed truncated mRNAs, including a frameshift. Alteration and inactivation of the FEZ1 gene may play a role in various human Tumors.