The Polycomb group (PcG) genes contribute to the maintenance of cell identity, cell cycle regulation and oncogenesis. The mammalian PcG proteins are regulatory proteins important for Hox gene expression, axial skeleton development and the control of proliferation and survival of hematopoietic cells. By inducing changes in chromatin structure, the PcG proteins are part of a cellular memory system that is responsible for gene activity being inherited to progeny cells. PcG proteins silence gene expression through the formation of multimeric protein complexes with different compositions. Manipulating the expression-levels of various PcG proteins in mammalian cell lines results in cellular transformation, which may be a link between the chromatin-associated PcG proteins and cancer. Polycomb protein SUZ12, also designated ChET 9 protein or joined-to-JAZF1 protein, is a nuclear protein belonging to the VEFS (VRN2-EMF2-FIS2-SUZ12) family. SUZ12 has been detected at the breakpoints of a certain recurrent chromosomal translocation which has been reported in endometrial stromal sarcoma. It is a component of the PRC2 complex, composed of EED, EZH2, SUZ12/JJAZ1, RBBP4 and RBBP7.
