Functional characterization of early growth response transcription factor 2 (EGR-2)

Early Growth Response transcription factor 2 (EGR-2) is activated rapidly and transiently upon mitogenic stimulation of T cells. EGR-2 forms physical and functional complexes with members of NF-kB family, and specifically EGR-2/p65 NFkB heterodimers show strong synergistic activity in inflammatory cytokine ICAM-1 and TNF? gene regulation. EGR-2 protein interacts with transcriptional repressor NAB-2 protein and upon this interaction activity of EGR-2/p65 complexes is abrogated. In addition to EGR proteins NAB-2 interacts with p65 NF-kB as well, downregulating its activity. EGR proteins bind not only to different transcription factors but to each other as well, forming heterodimers.