SET Nuclear Oncogene (SET)

The SET gene encodes transcripts of 2.0 and 2.7 kb that result from the use of alternative polyadenylation sites. Both transcripts contained the open reading frame for a putative protein with a predicted molecular mass of 32 kD. The SET sequence showed homology with the yeast nucleosome assembly protein NAP-I. The only common sequence motif of SET and DEK proteins is an acidic region. SET has a long acidic tail, of which a large part is present in the predicted SET-CAN fusion protein.The mRNA encoding SET was expressed at much higher levels in transformed human and rodent cell lines than in cultured renal epithelial and primary endothelial cells. Consistent with a role for SET in cell proliferation, SET mRNA expression was markedly reduced in cells rendered quiescent by serum starvation, contact inhibition, or differentiation.