Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 mRNA (ZEB2 mRNA)

Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) mRNA is the transcript encoding the ZEB2 protein, a member of the ZEB family of transcription factors (UniProt: O60315). It is a master regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process where epithelial cells lose polarity and gain migratory properties (PubMed: 28611535). ZEB2 is essential for neural crest development and organogenesis, and its haploinsufficiency leads to Mowat-Wilson syndrome, characterized by intellectual disability and distinct facial features (NIH: GeneReviews). In oncology, ZEB2 mRNA is often upregulated, driving metastasis and drug resistance in cancers such as breast, lung, and colorectal carcinoma (PubMed: 30217957). Therapeutic targeting of ZEB2 mRNA using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or siRNAs aims to restore E-cadherin expression and inhibit tumor spread (PubMed: 25605103). Additionally, the miR-200 family of microRNAs acts as a natural antagonist to ZEB2 mRNA, and miR-200 mimics are being investigated as potential therapeutics (PubMed: 18485877).

Other names

SIP1SMADIP1ZFHX1BZinc finger homeobox 1bZEB2 transcript

RNA interference (RNAi), Antisense-mediated mRNA degradation, Translational repression