Epithelial Cell Transforming Sequence 2 (ECT2)

Protein ECT2 is a transforming protein that is related to Rho-specific exchange factors and yeast cell cycle regulators. The expression of this gene is elevated with the onset of DNA synthesis and remains elevated during G2 and M phases. In situ hybridization analysis showed that expression is at a high level in cells undergoing mitosis in regenerating liver. Thus, this protein is expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner during liver regeneration, and is thought to have an important role in the regulation of cytokinesis.

Inhibition of PLK1 in HeLa cells abolished interaction of ECT2 with its activator and midzone anchor, CYK4 (RACGAP1), thereby preventing localization of ECT2 to the central spindle and leading to early cytokinesis defects.