Mecom
Developmental stage
Expressed at 8.5 dpc in the anterior section of the primary head folds. Ubiquitously expressed at 9.5 dpc with higher expression in forebrain, mesenchyme of the branchial arches, nasal pits, limb buds and mesonephric ducts. Also detected at 10.5 dpc in hindbrain and lateral region of the neural tube.
Domain
Both zinc finger regions are required for the transcriptional activation of PBX1.
Function
Isoform 1
Functions as a transcriptional regulator binding to DNA sequences in the promoter region of target genes and regulating positively or negatively their expression. Oncogene which plays a role in development, cell proliferation and differentiation. May also play a role in apoptosis through regulation of the JNK and TGF-beta signaling. Involved in hematopoiesis.
Isoform 3
Displays histone methyltransferase activity and monomethylates 'Lys-9' of histone H3 (H3K9me1) in vitro. Probably catalyzes the monomethylation of free histone H3 in the cytoplasm which is then transported to the nucleus and incorporated into nucleosomes where SUV39H methyltransferases use it as a substrate to catalyze histone H3 'Lys-9' trimethylation. Likely to be one of the primary histone methyltransferases along with PRDM16 that direct cytoplasmic H3K9me1 methylation.
Post-translational modifications
May be acetylated by CREBBP and KAT2B.
Cellular localization
- Nucleus
- Nucleus speckle
- Cytoplasm
Alternative names
Evi1, Mds1, Prdm3, Mecom, Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase MECOM, Ecotropic virus integration site 1 protein, MDS1 and EVI1 complex locus protein, Myelodysplasia syndrome 1 protein homolog, EVI-1