AF4/FMR2 family member 2 is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''AFF2''
gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
.
Mutations in ''AFF2'' are implicated in cases of
breast cancer
Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...
.
CCG repeat expansions in this gene are associated with
X-linked intellectual disability
X-linked intellectual disability refers to medical disorders associated with X-linked recessive inheritance that result in intellectual disability.
As with most X-linked disorders, males are more heavily affected than females. Females with one a ...
and specifically a syndrome known as
Fragile XE mental retardation (FRAXE). FRAXE is one of the most common forms of non-syndromic X-linked intellectual disability. The gene is also known as FMR2 (Fragile Mental Retardation 2) after this condition.
Genomics
This gene is located on the long arm of chromosome X (Xq27.3-Xq28) It has 22 exons spanning at least 500 kb. Alternative splicing may occur and involve exons 2, 3, 5, 7 and 21. The normal encoded protein is 1311
codon
Genetic code is a set of rules used by living cells to translate information encoded within genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences of nucleotide triplets or codons) into proteins. Translation is accomplished by the ribosome, which links prote ...
s in length. It is expressed as an 8.7 kilobase transcript in the
placenta
The placenta (: placentas or placentae) is a temporary embryonic and later fetal organ that begins developing from the blastocyst shortly after implantation. It plays critical roles in facilitating nutrient, gas, and waste exchange between ...
and adult
brain
The brain is an organ (biology), organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It consists of nervous tissue and is typically located in the head (cephalization), usually near organs for ...
.
The normal 5' untranslated region has 10-35 CCG repeats and more frequently 15–20. Pathogenic expansions have typically over 200 repeats and are methylated.
This gene belongs to the AFF family of genes which currently has four members:
AFF1/AF4, AFF2/FMR2,
AFF3/LAF4 and
AFF4/AF5q31.
All AFF proteins are localized in the nucleus and have a role as transcriptional activators with a positive action on RNA elongation. AFF2/FMR2, AFF3/LAF4 and AFF4/AF5q31 localize in nuclear speckles (subnuclear structures considered to be storage/modification sites of pre-mRNA splicing factors) and are able to bind RNA with a high apparent affinity for the G-quadruplex structure. They appear to modulate alternative splicing via the interaction with the G-quadruplex RNA-forming structure.
The other members of this family have been reported to form fusion genes as a consequence of chromosome translocations and are involved in the pathogenesis of myeloid/lymphoid or mixed lineage
leukemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...
.
References
Further reading
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External links
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Intellectual disability
Genetic diseases and disorders
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