Egr-1, Egr-2, Egr-3 and Egr-4 are nuclear transcription factors belonging to the Egr C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family and containing three C2H2-type zinc fingers. They are subject to tight differential control through diverse mechanisms at several levels of regulation: transcriptional; translational and posttranslational (including glycosylation, phosphorylation and redox) mechanisms; and protein-protein interaction. The expression of EGR family members is induced by growth factors, with EGR1 expression being induced by NGF. Increased EGR1 expression activates transcription of other signaling molecules, including CDK5 and tyrosine hydroxylase, and exerts long term effects on neural cell growth and differentiation.
