Eyes absent homolog 1 (EYA1)

Eyes absent homolog 1 (EYA1) is a multifunctional protein with both **transcriptional coactivator** and **phosphatase** activities, encoded by the EYA1 gene. It is part of the eyes absent gene family and plays a pivotal role in developmental organogenesis, especially of the kidney, branchial arches, eye, and inner ear. EYA1 partners principally with SIX family transcription factors to regulate the expression of genes crucial for cell fate specification, proliferation, and survival during embryonic development. EYA1 acts as a protein tyrosine phosphatase that can also mediate serine/threonine phosphatase activity (likely through complex formation), with substrates including γ-H2AX (modulating DNA damage response), estrogen receptor β, and others. Mutations or dosage imbalances in EYA1 cause congenital developmental disorders such as branchiootorenal syndrome, and reactivation or overexpression—particularly in concert with SIX proteins—has been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis. As a result, EYA1 is recognized as a potential therapeutic target in oncology and genetic disease.

Other names

Eyes absent homolog 1EYA transcriptional coactivator and phosphatase 1Protein phosphatase EYA1BOPBORBOS1OFC1OTFCSprotein phosphatase EYA1eyes absent homolog 1EYA1

Experimental EYA1 inhibitors act primarily by inhibition of **protein tyrosine phosphatase** activity, purported to block the pro-tumor transcriptional and survival activities of EYA1, reducing cancer cell growth and metastasis.