Centromere Protein W (CENPW)

The predicted 88-amino acid protein has a 17-amino acid nuclear localization sequence. It shares weak homology with the downregulator of transcription-1 gene (DR1). Lee et al. (2007) observed significant expression of CUG2 in multiple human cancers, with highest levels in ovary, liver, lung, and pancreas. An EGFP-tagged fusion protein localized CUG2 to the nucleus.mouse fibroblast cells transfected with a CUG2-expressing construct showed distinct colonies after 2 weeks' growth in soft agar as opposed to vector-only controls. Further studies showed that CUG2-transfected NIH3T3 cells were more invasive and had greater cell motility in vitro and produced tumors in mice similar to those produced by the HRAS oncogene. Lee et al. (2007) suggested that CUG2 may be a transcriptional regulator important in many solid cancers.