WT1

Wilms tumor protein is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the WT1 is_associated_with::gene on chromosome 11p.

Function
This gene encodes a is_associated_with::transcription factor that contains four is_associated_with::zinc finger motifs at the is_associated_with::C-terminus and a is_associated_with::proline / is_associated_with::glutamine-rich is_associated_with::DNA-binding domain at the is_associated_with::N-terminus. It has an essential role in the normal development of the is_associated_with::urogenital system, and it is mutated in a subset of patients with is_associated_with::Wilms' tumor, the gene's namesake. Multiple transcript variants, resulting from alternative splicing at two coding exons, have been well characterized. There is also evidence for the use of non-AUG (CUG) translation initiation site upstream of, and in-frame with the first AUG, leading to additional isoforms.

Structure
The WT1 gene product shows similarity to the is_associated_with::zinc fingers of the is_associated_with::mammalian growth regulated early growth response protein 1 (is_associated_with::EGR1) and (is_associated_with::EGR2) is_associated_with::proteins.

Clinical significance
Wilm's is_associated_with::tumour tumor suppressor gene1 (WT1) causes an embryonic is_associated_with::malignancy of the kidney, affecting around 1 in 10,000 infants. It occurs in both sporadic and hereditary forms. Inactivation of WT1 causes Wilm's tumour, and is_associated_with::Denys-Drash syndrome (DDS), leading to is_associated_with::nephropathy and genital abnormalities. The WT1 protein has been found to bind a host of cellular factors, e.g. is_associated_with::p53, a known tumor suppressor.

The serine protease HtrA2 binds to WT1 and it cleaves WT1 at multiple sites following the treatment with cytotoxic drugs.

Using is_associated_with::immunohistochemistry, WT1 protein can be demonstrated in the cell nuclei of 75% of mesotheliomas and in 93% of ovarian serous carcinomas, as well as in benign is_associated_with::mesothelium and is_associated_with::fallopian tube is_associated_with::epithelium. This allows these tumours to be distinguished from other, similar, cancers, such as is_associated_with::adenocarcinoma. Antibodies to the WT1 protein, however, also frequently cross-react with is_associated_with::cytoplasmic proteins in a variety of benign and malignant cells, so that only nuclear staining can be considered diagnostic.

Interactions
WT1 has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::U2AF2, is_associated_with::PAWR, is_associated_with::UBE2I and WTAP.

RNA editing
There is some evidence for is_associated_with::RNA editing of human WT1 is_associated_with::mRNA.As with is_associated_with::alternative splicing of the gene RNA editing increases the number of isoforms of this protein.

Editing is tissue specific and developmentally regulated. Editing shown to be restricted in testis and kidney in the rat. Editing of this gene product has been found to occur in mice and rats as well as humans.

Editing type
The editing site is found at nucleotide position 839 found in exon 6 of the gene.It causes a codon change from a Proline codon (CCC) to a Leucine codon (CUC)

The type of editing is a is_associated_with::Uridine to is_associated_with::Cytidine( U to C) base change .The editing reaction is thought to be an amidation of uridine which converts it to a Cytidine.The relevance of this editing is unknown as is the enzyme responsible for this editing.The region where editing occurs like that of other editing sites e.g. ApoB mRNA editing is conserved.Mice, rat and humans have conserved sequences flanking the editing site consisting of 10 nucleotides before the editing site and four after the site.

Effects of editing
RNA editing results in an alternative amino acid being translated. The changes in amino acid occur in a region identified as a domain involved in transcription activation function.

Editing has been shown to decrease repressive regulation of transcription of growth promoting genes in vitro compared to the non edited protein. Although the physiological role of editing has yet to be determined, suggestions have been made that editing may play a role in the pathogenesis of is_associated_with::Wilms tumour.