Leucine-zipper-like transcriptional regulator 1 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 ''LZTR1''

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 ...

. The LZTR1 gene provides instructions for making a protein among the class of the superfamily broad complex, tamtrack & brick-a-bac / poxvirus and zinc finger (BTB/POZ). The superfamily of proteins has a wide range of functions including chromatin condensation during conformation of the cell cycle. Other names associated with the LZTR gene are: BTBD29, LZTR-1, NS10, NS2, SWNTS2. This gene encodes a member of the BTB- kelch superfamily. Initially described as a putative transcriptional regulator based on weak homology to members of the basic

leucine zipper A leucine zipper (or leucine scissors) is a common three-dimensional structural motif in proteins. They were first described by Landschulz and collaborators in 1988 when they found that an enhancer binding protein had a very characteristic 30-amin ...

-like family, the encoded protein subsequently has been shown to localize exclusively to the Golgi network where it may help stabilize the

Golgi complex The Golgi apparatus (), also known as the Golgi complex, Golgi body, or simply the Golgi, is an organelle found in most eukaryotic Cell (biology), cells. Part of the endomembrane system in the cytoplasm, it protein targeting, packages proteins ...

Function

Based on its role in several tumor types, the LZTR1 protein is thought to act as a tumor suppressor. Tumor suppressors are proteins that keep cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way. The LZTR1 is a non-specific protein that is found in all cells inside the body. It is believed to be a transcriptional regulator that is typically degraded on apoptotic cells. The protein will be phosphorylated at its tyrosine receptors that will target it for degradation. Intracellularly, LZTR proteins will be found in the Golgi apparatus. Studies suggest that the LZTR1 protein may help stabilize this structure. LTZR1 protein could possibly be associated with the CUL3 ubiquitin ligase (Cullin-Based Ubiquitin Ligase 3) complex that helps function to destroy unneeded proteins in the cell. It has also been observed that LZTR protein will inhibit Ras signaling in the membrane by reducing the affinity of Ras to the membrane. Ras belongs to the family of

GTPases GTPases are a large family of hydrolase enzymes that bind to the nucleotide guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and hydrolyze it to guanosine diphosphate (GDP). The GTP binding and hydrolysis takes place in the highly conserved P-loop "G domain", a pro ...

that are involved in transcription regulation and activation of Raf enzymes. Raf molecules will cascade phosphorylate other molecules in the body to have a wide impact on a cell. Studies using immunoprecipitation of endogenous LZTR1 followed by Western blotting were used to find the function of the LZTR gene. By trapping LZTR1 complexes from intact mammalian cells, Steklov et al. (2018) identified the guanosine triphosphatase RAS as a substrate for the LZTR1-CUL3 complex.

Gene

The LZTR 1 gene is located on Chromosome 22: more specifically on the long arm at 22q11.21. The gene is approximately 16,768 base pairs long.

Mutations

Studies have found that mutations in the LZTR1 gene were found in malignant cancerous cells in the tumors of patients with

glioblastoma Glioblastoma, previously known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive and most common type of cancer that originates in the brain, and has a very poor prognosis for survival. Initial signs and symptoms of glioblastoma are nons ...

. These mutations were found to be somatic, typically caused by environmental factors, and the loss of the LZTR1 gene are seen in the cells that are divided uncontrollably.

DiGeorge Syndrome

DiGeorge syndrome DiGeorge syndrome, also known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, is a syndrome caused by a microdeletion on the long arm of chromosome 22. While the symptoms can vary, they often include congenital heart problems, specific facial features, frequent ...

(known as 22q11.2 deletion) caused by a deletion in the 22nd chromosome. Some of the typical symptoms associated with DiGeorge Syndrome are specific facial structure, congenital heart disease, and developmental delays. The implications of LTZR1 mutations were first diagnosed in DiGeorge patients. Studies have shown that deletion or mutation of the LZTR1 are identified in most patients that have been diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome. The transcriptional regulation capabilities of the LZTR1 gene may play an important role in embryogenesis and is observed in several fetal organs.

Noonan syndrome

Noonan syndrome Noonan syndrome (NS) is a genetic disorder that may present with mildly unusual facial features, short height, congenital heart disease, bleeding problems, and skeletal malformations. Facial features include widely spaced eyes, light-colored ...

is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder characterized by a wide phenotypic spectrum including distinctive facial dysmorphism, postnatal growth retardation, short stature, ectodermal and skeletal defects, congenital heart anomalies, renal anomalies, lymphatic malformations, bleeding difficulties and variable cognitive deficits. Studies have shown that in 29 genes there were 163 variants in patients with Noonan Syndrome. In the study, using ''In Silco'' software, the heterozygous missense mutation of the LZTR1 gene at exon 4 was the most pathogenic. This missense mutation will lead to a substitution of an alanine to valine in the primary structure of amino acid for the LZTR protein.

Schwannomatosis

In patients with schwannomatosis, more than fifty different mutations in the LZTR1 gene are observed. These mutations themselves are not sufficient to cause the disorder, but are typically associated with it. The somatic changes from environmental factors are also seen in patients with schwannomatosis. When the gene is altered, the LTZR protein cannot function properly to regulate the cell cycle by controlling the growth division. This unregulated growth will lead to cancerous growth along the Schwann cells.