Anti-ASH2L

The human ASH2L gene encodes a 628 amino acid protein known as ASH2L1, or isoform 1, which contains a nuclear localization signal and PHD finger motif, suggesting that the gene product functions as a transcription regulator. Alternative splicing results in a shorter isoform 2, designated ASH2L2, which is missing the first 94 amino acid residues found in ASH2L1. Human ASH2L proteins are 60% homologous to Drosophila ash2, which positively regulates expression of certain genes in early development, and contain similar, but not identical, domains, including a zinc finger motif. ASH2L is highly expressed in fetal liver, testis and leukemia cell lines with erythroid and megakaryocytic potential, such as K562, Hel and Dami. Protein function: Component of the Set1/Ash2 histone methyltransferase (HMT) complex, a complex that specifically methylates 'Lys-4' of histone H3, but not if the neighboring 'Lys-9' residue is already methylated. As part of the MLL1/MLL complex it is involved in methylation and dimethylation at 'Lys-4' of histone H3. May function as a transcriptional regulator. May play a role in hematopoiesis. [The UniProt Consortium]