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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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POLE2
DNA polymerase epsilon 2, accessory subunit
Chromosome 14 · 14q21.3
NCBI Gene: 5427Ensembl: ENSG00000100479.15HGNC: HGNC:9178UniProt: P56282
60PubMed Papers
20Diseases
7Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Hub Gene
CLINICAL
FDA Approved Target
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingnuclear bodyepsilon DNA polymerase complexDNA-templated DNA replicationnon-small cell lung carcinomaacute lymphoblastic leukemiaacute myeloid leukemiachronic lymphocytic leukemia
✦AI Summary

POLE2 encodes an accessory subunit of the DNA polymerase epsilon complex that participates in chr14 DNA replication and DNA repair 1. The protein functions as a central hub through NPF motif recognition, enabling interactions with diverse nuclear proteins involved in replication, DNA repair, and transcription regulation 2. POLE2 expression is regulated by E2F-mediated mechanisms through Sp1 and NF-1 binding sites in its promoter region, linking its expression to cell cycle control 1. The gene plays significant roles in cancer biology, with overexpression observed in multiple malignancies including oral squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and bladder cancer 3456. POLE2 promotes cancer cell proliferation and survival by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathways and inhibiting apoptosis 376. Additionally, it suppresses ferroptosis in cancer cells through activation of the NRF2/GPX4 pathway 45. Germline variants in POLE2 have been identified in patients with multiple primary cancers, suggesting potential roles in cancer predisposition 8. These findings establish POLE2 as both a critical component of DNA replication machinery and a potential therapeutic target in cancer treatment.

Sources cited
1
POLE2 encodes an accessory subunit of DNA polymerase epsilon complex and its expression is regulated by E2F-mediated mechanisms
PMID: 11433027
2
POLE2 functions as an NPF motif recognition protein, interacting with diverse nuclear proteins involved in replication, DNA repair, and transcription
PMID: 41390769
3
POLE2 is overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma and promotes cancer progression through PI3K/AKT signaling
PMID: 38079056
4
POLE2 inhibits ferroptosis in gastric cancer cells through NRF2/GPX4 pathway activation
PMID: 38070189
5
POLE2 mediates hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and ferroptosis resistance
PMID: 40081544
6
POLE2 promotes bladder cancer cell growth via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
PMID: 38963027
7
Silencing POLE2 promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma
PMID: 37733085
8
Germline variants in POLE2 identified in patients with multiple primary cancers
PMID: 29641532
Disease Associationsⓘ20
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.60Moderate
acute lymphoblastic leukemiaOpen Targets
0.59Moderate
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.59Moderate
chronic lymphocytic leukemiaOpen Targets
0.59Moderate
pancreatic carcinomaOpen Targets
0.58Moderate
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.57Moderate
breast carcinomaOpen Targets
0.54Moderate
ovarian carcinomaOpen Targets
0.54Moderate
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.53Moderate
ovarian cancerOpen Targets
0.52Moderate
myelodysplastic syndromeOpen Targets
0.51Moderate
leptomeningeal metastasisOpen Targets
0.45Moderate
lymphomaOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
lung cancerOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
leukemiaOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
nasopharyngeal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
urinary bladder cancerOpen Targets
0.41Moderate
cancerOpen Targets
0.41Moderate
diffuse large B-cell lymphomaOpen Targets
0.41Moderate
Malignant Pancreatic NeoplasmOpen Targets
0.40Moderate
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets7
ASPACYTARABINEPhase II
DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) inhibitor
acute myeloid leukemia by FAB classification
CLOFARABINEApproved
DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) inhibitor
acute lymphoblastic leukemia
CYTARABINEApproved
DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) inhibitor
acute lymphoblastic leukemia
FLUDARABINE PHOSPHATEApproved
DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) inhibitor
GEMCITABINEApproved
DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) inhibitor
GEMCITABINE HYDROCHLORIDEApproved
DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) inhibitor
breast carcinoma
TROXACITABINEPhase II
DNA polymerase (alpha/delta/epsilon) inhibitor
Related Genes
CHTF18Protein interaction100%POLE4Protein interaction100%POLD1Protein interaction100%POLEProtein interaction100%MCM10Protein interaction100%TIMELESSProtein interaction100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Brain
15%
Liver
12%
Ovary
9%
Lung
6%
Heart
3%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
POLE2CHTF18POLE4POLD1POLEMCM10TIMELESS
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB5VBN · 2.35 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.94LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF1.53 [0.76–1.94]
RankingsWhere POLE2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #7,696of 20,598
    Most Researched60
  • #316of 1,025
    FDA-Approved Drug Targets5
  • #17,519of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.94
Genes detectedPOLE2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Germline mutations in candidate predisposition genes in individuals with cutaneous melanoma and at least two independent additional primary cancers.
PMID: 29641532
PLoS One · 2018
1.00
2
GINS4 silencing mediates hepatocellular cancer cell proliferation, cycle and ferroptosis through POLE2.
PMID: 40081544
Cell Signal · 2025
0.90
3
E2F mediates induction of the Sp1-controlled promoter of the human DNA polymerase epsilon B-subunit gene POLE2.
PMID: 11433027
Nucleic Acids Res · 2001
0.80
4
Inhibition of ferroptosis by POLE2 in gastric cancer cells involves the activation of NRF2/GPX4 pathway.
PMID: 38070189
J Cell Mol Med · 2024
0.70
5
POLE2 Regulates Apoptosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway.
PMID: 38079056
Curr Med Sci · 2023
0.60