ERG (A7L1G) Rabbit mAb #97249

ETS-related gene (ERG) is a member of the E-26 transformation-specific (ETS) family of sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors (1). ERG plays important and highly conserved roles in vertebrate development. Early in embryonic development, ERG is highly expressed in the embryonic mesoderm and endothelium, where it plays a critical role in the formation of the vascular system, urogenital tract and bone development (2,3). Later in embryonic development, ERG functions to regulate the pluripotency of hematopoietic stem cells, endothelial cell homeostasis and angiogenesis (2,4-7). ERG expression is not restricted to development. In adult mouse, ERG is normally expressed in endothelial tissues, including adrenal, cartilage, heart, spleen, lymphatic endothelial and eosinophil cells (8). However, deregulation of ERG activity, often resulting from chromosomal rearrangements, has been implicated and linked to poor prognosis in a number of different cancers. Chromosomal translocations generating EWS/ERG chimeric proteins comprised of the amino-terminal transactivation domain of Ewing’s sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWS) and the carboxy-terminal ETS domain of ERG have been identified in 5-10% of Ewing’s sarcoma, an aggressive bone and soft tissue tumor (9). Chromosomal translocations between ERG and TLS/FUS or ERG and ELF4 have been implicated in acute myeloid leukemia (10, 11). Over-expression of ERG, resulting from gene fusion with the androgen-driven promoter of the TMPRSS2 gene, has been identified as a key driver of metastasis and marker for poor prognosis in prostate cancer (12).