RNA-binding protein EWS

The q22.2 region of chromosome 22 encodes the N-terminal transactivation domain of the EWS protein and that region may become joined to one of several other chromosomes which encode various transcription factors; see EWS/FLI and OMIM-133450.^[8] The expression of a chimeric protein with the EWS transactivation domain fused to the DNA binding region of a transcription factor generates a powerful oncogenic protein causing Ewing sarcoma and other members of the Ewing family of tumors. These translocations can occur due to chromoplexy, a burst of complex chromosomal rearrangements seen in cancer cells.^[9] The normal EWS gene encodes an RNA binding protein closely related to FUS (gene) and TAF15, all of which have been associated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.^[10]

The EWS protein has been shown to interact with:

• ATF1,^[11]
• BARD1,^[12]
• ERG,^[13]
• POU4F1,^[14]
• PTK2B^[15]
• SF1,^[16]
• SNRPC,^[17] and
• ZNF165.^[18]