Epsin-2 (EPN2) (EPN2)

Epsin-2 (EPN2) is a member of the epsin family of endocytic adapter proteins, characterized by an N-terminal epsin homology (ENTH) domain that binds phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (UniProt: O95208). It plays a critical role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis by linking ubiquitinated membrane proteins to the clathrin-coated pit machinery (PubMed: 10551827). A key biological function of EPN2 is its requirement for the endocytosis of Notch ligands, such as Delta-like 4, which is essential for the activation of Notch signaling in neighboring cells (PubMed: 22158420). In the context of disease, EPN2 is frequently overexpressed in various cancers, including breast and prostate cancer, where it promotes tumor progression and pathological angiogenesis (PubMed: 25344765). Targeting EPN2 mRNA using RNA interference (siRNA) or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) is an emerging therapeutic strategy aimed at downregulating the protein to inhibit tumor growth and vascularization (PubMed: 30217959). However, therapeutic development must address the functional redundancy between Epsin-1 and Epsin-2, as well as the potential for systemic toxicity due to the widespread importance of Notch signaling (PubMed: 21892142).

Other names

Epsin-2EPN2Epsin 2

RNA interference-mediated mRNA degradation and antisense-mediated translational inhibition