ARID2

AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 2 (ARID2) is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the ARID2 is_associated_with::gene.

Structure
The ARID2 protein contains two conserved is_associated_with::C-terminal C 2 H 2 is_associated_with::zinc fingers motifs, a region rich in the is_associated_with::amino acid residues is_associated_with::proline and is_associated_with::glutamine, a RFX (regulatory factor X)-type winged-helix is_associated_with::DNA-binding domain, and a conserved is_associated_with::N-terminal AT-rich DNA interaction domain—the last domain for which the protein is named.

Clinical significance
Mutation studies have revealed ARID2 to be a significant is_associated_with::tumor suppressor in many cancer subtypes. ARID2 mutations are prevalent in is_associated_with::hepatocellular carcinoma and is_associated_with::melanoma. Mutations are present in a smaller but significant fraction in a wide range of other tumors. ARID2 mutations are enriched in is_associated_with::hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma in the US and European patient populations compared with the overall is_associated_with::mutation frequency.

Model organisms
The ARID2 gene, located on is_associated_with::chromosome 12q in humans, consists of 21 is_associated_with::exons; is_associated_with::orthologs are known from mouse, rat, cattle, chicken, and mosquito. is_associated_with::Model organisms have been used in the study of ARID2 function. A conditional is_associated_with::knockout mouse line, called Arid2tm1a(EUCOMM)Wtsi was generated as part of the is_associated_with::International Knockout Mouse Consortium program, a high-throughput mutagenesis project to generate and distribute animal models of disease to interested scientists.

Male and female animals underwent a standardized is_associated_with::phenotypic screen to determine the effects of deletion. Twenty six tests were carried out on is_associated_with::mutant adult mice and two significant abnormalities were observed. A is_associated_with::recessive lethal study found less is_associated_with::homozygous is_associated_with::mutant embryos during gestation than predicted by is_associated_with::Mendelian ratio. In a second study, no homozygous mutant animals survived until is_associated_with::weaning. The remaining tests were carried out on is_associated_with::heterozygous mutant adult mice; these displayed no abnormalities.