Human ITCH is a coregulator of the hematopoietic transcription factor NF-E2

We have cloned a new protein that interacts with the hematopoietic DNA-bind ing transcription factor, p45/NF-E2, by screening a human erythroleukemia c ell cDNA library with the yeast two-hybrid approach. Predicted peptide sequ ence and chromosomal mapping identified the cloned molecule to be the produ ct of the human ortholog of the mouse Itch gene, which has been implicated previously in the regulation of growth and differentiation of erythroid and lymphoid cells. Transfection experiments indicate that this human ITCH pro tein can act as a transcriptional corepressor of p45/NF-E2. Our data provid e novel insights into the functional roles of the mammalian ITCH proteins i n the development of hematopoietic cell lineages. stool Academic Press.