Abstract
E-26 Transformation Specific (ETS) transcription factors are known to cause various cancers and their aberrant expression has been related to various oncogenic processes like metastasis and angiogenesis. Currently very few drugs exist which can directly target oncogenic transcription factor and none of them are approved for human use. To design ETS transcription factor targeting small molecules, an understanding of their regulation in cancers is essential. In this review, we have discussed upstream transcriptional regulations of ETS factors that includes epigenetic alterations in DNA like methylation and acetylation, alternate promoter, fusion gene formation, promoter affinity/specificity, recruitment of cofactors/repressors, etc. Additionally, we have also detailed the regulatory post translational modifications like phosphorylation, acetylation and ubiqutinylation for various ETS family members. These transcriptional and translational alterations regulate the expression of all ETS family members and can provide rational for drug designing in future.
Keywords
ETS, Transcription, Phosphorylation, Acetylation, Ubiqutinylation, Regulation