Enables RNA polymerase II transcription regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding activity; identical protein binding activity; and protein heterodimerization activity. Involved in several processes, including apoptotic process; positive regulation of programmed cell death; and positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. Predicted to be active in nucleus. Is expressed in excretory duct cell. Used to study acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in osteoporosis. Orthologous to human DBP (D-box binding PAR bZIP transcription factor); HLF (HLF transcription factor, PAR bZIP family member); and TEF (TEF transcription factor, PAR bZIP family member).
WB Description
ces-2 encodes a basic region leucine-zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, most similar in sequence and binding specificity to the PAR (proline- and acid-rich) subfamily of bZIP proteins; ces-2 is required to activate programmed cell death in the sister cells of the serotoninergic neurosecretory motor (NSM) neurons, and is transcriptionally inhibited by activated LET-60(G12V); in regulating programmed cell death in the NSM sister cell, CES-2 functions together with DNJ-11 to negatively regulate transcription of ces-1 which, in turn, negatively regulates transcription of the pro-apoptotic BH3-only gene egl-1; ces-2 also functions together with dnj-11 to regulate asymmetric cell division and mitotic spindle orientation in the NSM lineage, revealing a functional coupling between asymmetric cell division and apoptosis.