TCF21
Encyclopedia
TCF21 is a tumor suppressor gene
which regulates mesenchymal cell transition into epithelial cells. It is frequently lost in human malignancies and is expressed in normal lung airway epithelial cells. It is silenced in the majority of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and non-small-cell lung cancer tumor cells through a chemical change known as DNA methylation
, a process that is potentially reversible.
The gene is located on chromosome 6
, in region 6q23-q24.
Tumor suppressor gene
A tumor suppressor gene, or anti-oncogene, is a gene that protects a cell from one step on the path to cancer. When this gene is mutated to cause a loss or reduction in its function, the cell can progress to cancer, usually in combination with other genetic changes.-Two-hit hypothesis:Unlike...
which regulates mesenchymal cell transition into epithelial cells. It is frequently lost in human malignancies and is expressed in normal lung airway epithelial cells. It is silenced in the majority of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and non-small-cell lung cancer tumor cells through a chemical change known as DNA methylation
DNA methylation
DNA methylation is a biochemical process that is important for normal development in higher organisms. It involves the addition of a methyl group to the 5 position of the cytosine pyrimidine ring or the number 6 nitrogen of the adenine purine ring...
, a process that is potentially reversible.
The gene is located on chromosome 6
Chromosome 6 (human)
Chromosome 6 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans. People normally have two copies of this chromosome. Chromosome 6 spans more than 170 million base pairs and represents between 5.5 and 6% of the total DNA in cells...
, in region 6q23-q24.