High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2)

High mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a small, intrinsically disordered non-histone chromatin protein characterized by three “AT-hook” motifs that bind the minor groove of AT-rich DNA, inducing DNA bending and chromatin remodeling. It is primarily expressed during development and undetectable in most adult tissues, but highly upregulated in numerous cancers and immature cell populations. HMGA2 functions as an architectural transcription factor, facilitating the assembly of nucleoprotein complexes and modulating gene expression indirectly by altering DNA and nucleosome structures. It is crucial for cell growth, adipogenesis, maintenance of stem cell potency, and DNA repair, making it a potential target for anticancer and anti-obesity drug development, with its activity tightly regulated by microRNA let-7 in normal cells.

Other names

HMGA2HMGI-CHigh mobility group protein HMGI-C

Inhibitors would reduce HMGA2-mediated chromatin condensation, architectural DNA functions, or stem cell potency. Suppression of HMGA2 reduces tumor cell proliferation and induces differentiation.