Dual Specificity Phosphatase 22 (DUSP22)

DUSP22 belongs to the protein-tyrosine phosphatase family. Non-receptor class dual specificity subfamily.Highest expression seen in heart, placenta, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas.β-estradiol (E2)-induced DUSP22 mRNA expression in estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer cells, whereas E2-induced phosphorylation and activation of ERα was suppressed by overexpression of DUSP22 but not catalytically inactive mutants. Furthermore, small-interfering RNA-mediated reduction of DUSP22 expression enhanced ERα-mediated transcription and endogenous gene expression. In fact, DUSP22 associated with ERα in vivo and both endogenous proteins interacted in ERα-positive breast cancer T47D cells. These results strongly suggest that DUSP22 acts as a negative regulator of the ERα-mediated signaling pathway.