The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the EGR family of C2H2-type zinc-finger proteins. It is a nuclear protein and functions as a transcriptional regulator. The products of target genes it activates are required for differentitation and mitogenesis. Studies suggest this is a cancer suppressor gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2014]
Forensic Context
A study in humans demonstrated that the EGR1 is downregulated in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of individuals with Opioid Use Disorder, where it regulates angiogenesis via modulation of pro-angiogenic FGF2 signaling [Mendez et al. DOI:10.1038/s41380-021-01259-y]. Separately, research in human peripheral blood identified the EGR1 as a differentially expressed gene exhibiting a consistent expression trend from young adulthood to later life, and it was incorporated into a validated age prediction model using machine learning algorithms [Liao et al. DOI:10.1016/J.Fsigen.2025.103373]. A study in humans demonstrated that the EGR1 was significantly upregulated in pericontusional brain tissue from patients free of alcohol following traumatic brain injury [Michael et al. DOI:10.1016/j.jocn.2004.11.003].