ING2

ING2 or Inhibitor of Growth Family, Member 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ING2 gene. This protein is a member of the ING family of tumor suppressor proteins.

Function

The ING2 protein is a nuclear protein that physically interacts with the tumor suppressor protein p53 and is a component of the mSin3a family of histone deacetylase complexes (HDAC). The ING2 protein is involved in numerous cellular processes including cell cycle control, apoptosis, and DNA repair.

Structure

The ING2 protein contains a PHD finger, a protein module that is implicated in chromatin recognition and nuclear import. The PHD finger of ING2 has been shown to bind to histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 4 (H3K4me3), a mark associated with gene activation.

Clinical Significance

Alterations in the ING2 gene have been associated with several types of cancer, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. The ING2 protein may serve as a potential biomarker for these types of cancer.

File:ING2 protein structure.jpg

Structure of the ING2 protein. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

See Also

• ING1
• ING3
• ING4
• ING5