Molecular cloning and expression of Ehf, a new member of the ets transcription factor/oncoprotein gene family.

The ets family is a large multigene family of transcription factors that share a conserved DNA-binding "ETS" domain and include several oncoproteins that induce tumorigenesis when overexpressed. Here we report the cDNA cloning from mouse pituitary somatotroph tumors, sequence characterization and tissue-specific expression pattern in mice of a novel ets family gene, "Ehf" ("ets homologous factor"). The putative 300 amino acid Ehf protein is a highly divergent ets family member, but is most related to the recently identified oncoprotein ESX (36% overall and 84% ETS domain amino acid identity). Thus, Ehf and ESX comprise a new ets subfamily. Ehf is a single-copy gene, but produces four distinct mRNA transcripts. Ehf transcripts are abundant in mouse kidney and lung, less so in muscle and liver, and not detected in brain, spleen or testes. Because of its presence in somatotroph tumors and its relationship to ESX, Ehf may represent a new oncoprotein.