Table 1.
Genes and pathways regulated by EZH2 overexpression in melanoma.
| Gene Name | Gene function | Regulation status |
|---|---|---|
| CIITA | Encodes for the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC II) | |
| DAB2IP | Ras GTPase-activating protein that promotes apoptosis | |
| E-Cadherin | Enables cell-cell adhesion | |
| KIF2C | Encodes for kinesin-like protein KIF2C****Regulates microtubule dynamics ****Required for chromosome segregation****Promotes melanoma cell motility, invasion, and lung colonization | |
| KIF22 | Encodes for kinesin-like protein KIF22****Essential role in metaphase chromosome alignment and maintenance****Promotes melanoma cell motility, invasion, and lung colonization | |
| CEACAM1 | Plays a role in the differentiation and arrangement of 3D tissue structure, angiogenesis, apoptosis, tumor suppression, metastasis, and the modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses ****May be regulated by MITF in melanocytes | |
| ADAM23 | Endodes for the enzyme disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 23****ADAM proteins negatively modulate integrin-mediated cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration | |
| AMD1 | A tumor suppressor gene that suppresses EMT and metastatic spread of melanoma | |
| MME | Associated with the generation of angiostatin, which inhibits angiogenesis | |
| MITF | Encodes a transcription factor that regulates the differentiation and development of melanocytes | |
| NRCAM | Neuronal cell adhesion molecule | |
| Notch | Active Notch signaling is associated with increased cell motility and lung colonization in melanoma | |
| Oca2 | Encodes for the P protein that is involved in small molecule transport, specifically tyrosine, which is a precursor of melanin | |
| PAX3 | Encodes for the transcription factor PAX3 ****Regulates melanocyte differentiation from neural crest cells during development | |
| P15 | Encodes for a CdKI that inhibits the cell cycle at G1 phase | |
| P16 | Encodes for a CdKI that inhibits the cell cycle at G1 phase | |
| P21 | Encodes for a CdKI that inhibits the cell cycle at G1 phase | |
| PTEN | A tumor suppressor gene that negatively regulates the AKT/PKB signaling pathway | |
| SRF | Active SRF signaling is associated with increased cell motility and lung colonization in melanoma | |
| SOX 10 | Encodes for the transcription factor SOX 10 that is involved in the regulation of embryonic development and in the determination of cell fate | |
| TGF-β | Controls proliferation and differentiation | |
| Wnt signaling pathways | A group of signal transduction pathways made up of proteins that pass signals from outside to inside of the cell. ****Implicated in oncogenesis and in several developmental processes, including regulation of cell fate |
CdKI: cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor; PTEN: phosphatase and tensin homolog; Oca2: oculocutaneous albinism II (OCA2) gene; MITF: microphthalmia-associated transcription factor; MME: mouse macrophage metalloelastase; CEACAM1: carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1.