Achaete Scute Complex Like Protein 2 (ASCL2)

ASCL2 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (BHLH) family of transcription factors. It activates transcription by binding to the E box (5'-CANNTG-3'). human ASH2 cooperated with HRAS to transform primary rat embryo fibroblasts (REFs). Furthermore, transformation of REFs by MYC and HRAS required the presence of rat Ash2. In an animal model, human ASH2/HRAS-transformed REFs formed rapidly growing tumors characteristic of fibrosarcomas that, compared with tumors derived from MYC/HRAS-transformed cells, were poorly differentiated.

ASH2 protein expression was increased in most human tumors and tumor cell lines examined, and knockdown of ASH2 inhibited proliferation in 2 human tumor cell lines.