Copg2, also known as Coatomer Protein Subunit Gamma 2, is associated with the coatomer protein complex, which is involved in vesicle trafficking between the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum [1,2,6,7]. This function is crucial for maintaining normal cellular processes related to protein sorting and transport.

In mouse studies, Copg2 was found to be paternally imprinted, with its expression regulated in a tissue-specific manner [1]. For example, in the developing central nervous system, the expression of Copg2 was influenced by alternative polyadenylation of the Mest gene, leading to preferential expression from the maternal allele in MestXL-expressing tissues [3]. In cattle, COPG2 transcripts showed biallelic expression, suggesting a lack of conservation of imprinting among mammals [4]. In human and anthropoid primate cortices, COPG2 expression was downregulated in the human cortex compared to other species, which may support a role in the development of a “social brain” [5]. In patients with cytogenetically normal-acute myeloid leukemia, COPG2 was significantly upregulated, highlighting its potential association with leukemogenesis [8].

In conclusion, Copg2 is essential for vesicle trafficking-related cellular functions. Mouse models have revealed its tissue-specific imprinting and regulatory mechanisms, while its altered expression in human diseases like acute myeloid leukemia indicates its importance in disease-related processes. Further research on Copg2 could provide deeper insights into normal cellular function and disease mechanisms.

References:

1. Lee, Y J, Park, C W, Hahn, Y, Hyun, B, Chung, J H. . Mit1/Lb9 and Copg2, new members of mouse imprinted genes closely linked to Peg1/Mest(1). In FEBS letters, 472, 230-4. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10788617/

2. Yun, Jihye, Park, Chang Won, Lee, Young Jae, Chung, Jae Hoon. . Allele-specific methylation at the promoter-associated CpG island of mouse Copg2. In Mammalian genome : official journal of the International Mammalian Genome Society, 14, 376-82. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12879359/

3. MacIsaac, Julia L, Bogutz, Aaron B, Morrissy, A Sorana, Lefebvre, Louis. 2011. Tissue-specific alternative polyadenylation at the imprinted gene Mest regulates allelic usage at Copg2. In Nucleic acids research, 40, 1523-35. doi:10.1093/nar/gkr871. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22053079/

4. Khatib, Hasan. . The COPG2, DCN, and SDHD genes are biallelically expressed in cattle. In Mammalian genome : official journal of the International Mammalian Genome Society, 16, 545-52. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16151700/

5. Schneider, E, Mayer, S, El Hajj, N, Zechner, U, Haaf, T. 2012. Methylation and expression analyses of the 7q autism susceptibility locus genes MEST , COPG2, and TSGA14 in human and anthropoid primate cortices. In Cytogenetic and genome research, 136, 278-87. doi:10.1159/000337298. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22456293/

6. Yamasaki, K, Hayashida, S, Miura, K, Niikawa, N, Kishino, T. . The novel gene, gamma2-COP (COPG2), in the 7q32 imprinted domain escapes genomic imprinting. In Genomics, 68, 330-5. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10995575/

7. Brunner, B, Grützner, F, Yaspo, M L, Haaf, T, Kalscheuer, V M. . Molecular cloning and characterization of the Fugu rubripes MEST/COPG2 imprinting cluster and chromosomal localization in Fugu and Tetraodon nigroviridis. In Chromosome research : an international journal on the molecular, supramolecular and evolutionary aspects of chromosome biology, 8, 465-76. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11032317/

8. Yang, Ming-Yu, Hsu, Cheng-Ming, Lin, Pai-Mei, Chen, I-Ya, Lin, Sheng-Fung. 2023. Altered expression of imprinted genes in patients with cytogenetically normal‑acute myeloid leukemia: Implications for leukemogenesis and survival outcomes. In Molecular and clinical oncology, 19, 94. doi:10.3892/mco.2023.2690. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37920417/