Background of the antigen
E2F's are DNA binding proteins, which associate with negative regulators, such as the retinoblastoma p107 protein, resulting in an altered rate of gene transcription. The E2F proteins contain several evolutionally conserved domains found in most members of the family. These domains include a DNA binding domain, a dimerization domain which determines interaction with the differentiation regulated transcription factor proteins (DP), a transactivation domain enriched in acidic amino acids, and a tumor suppressor protein association domain which is embedded within the transactivation domain. This protein and another 2 members, E2F2 and E2F3, have an additional cyclin binding domain. E2F1 is proposed to be involved in several cellular processes that range from tumor suppressor, cell progression and oncogenesis. E2F1 overexpression can also drive cells into apoptosis.
