PR domain zinc finger protein 2 (isoform RIZ2) (RIZ2)

RIZ2 is an isoform of the PR domain zinc finger protein 2 (PRDM2), encoded by the PRDM2 gene and produced via an internal promoter [1][4]. Unlike the full-length RIZ1 isoform, RIZ2 lacks the N-terminal PR (PRDI-BF1 and RIZ) domain, which is responsible for histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase activity [1][2]. In many human cancers, including breast, liver, and colon cancer, the balance between RIZ1 and RIZ2 is disrupted, with RIZ2 often being overexpressed while RIZ1 is silenced [3][5]. RIZ2 is considered to have oncogenic potential, as it lacks the tumor-suppressive properties of RIZ1 and can functionally antagonize RIZ1-mediated growth inhibition [3]. As a zinc finger protein, RIZ2 participates in transcriptional regulation and has been shown to interact with other transcription factors like GATA-3 and the estrogen receptor [1][2]. Although no drugs are currently approved to target RIZ2 specifically, experimental approaches such as antisense oligonucleotides have demonstrated the ability to reduce RIZ2 levels and inhibit tumor cell growth [5]. The RIZ1/RIZ2 expression ratio is a significant biomarker for assessing cancer risk and progression [3].

Other names

PRDM2RIZMTB-ZfHUMHOVERKMT8GATA-3-binding protein

Modulation of the RIZ1/RIZ2 expression ratio or inhibition of RIZ2-mediated transcriptional activity [5]