Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A2 (EIF5A2)

Antisense DNA against EIF5A2 could inhibit cell growth in an ovarian cancer cell line in which EIF5A2 was amplified in the form of double minute chromosomes. Cell growth in this cell line was also inhibited when expression of EIF5A2 was decreased by reduction of the copy number of double minute chromosomes. Microarray analysis showed that EIF5A2 overexpression was significantly associated with advanced stages of ovarian cancer.

The predicted 153-amino acid protein is 84% identical and 94% similar to EIF5A. RNA array analysis revealed strongest expression in testis and adult brain; expression was not found in fetal brain. Strong expression was also detected in a colorectal tumor cell line, although only low levels were detected in normal intestinal tissue.