ash-2 encodes the C. elegans ortholog of Drosophila Ash2, a trithorax group protein that is a member of the conserved H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) complex; in C. elegans, loss of ash-2 via RNAi results in reduced levels of H3K4me3 at L3 larval stages indicating that ASH-2 functions in H3K4 trimethylation; ASH-2 also functions in the C. elegans germline to negatively regulate lifespan; in addition, loss of ash-2 activity via RNAi results in embryonic lethality characterized by defects in cortical activity and spindle rocking; loss of ash-2 activity in a lin-35 mutant background results in reduced brood size and lethality; two ash-2 deletion mutations, tm1903 and tm1905, also result in lethality and sterility; ASH-2 is highly expressed in the germ line and in early embryos; ASH-2 localizes to the nucleus.
Predicted to enable transcription cis-regulatory region binding activity. Involved in determination of adult lifespan; programmed cell death; and transdifferentiation. Located in nucleus. Part of MLL3/4 complex. Expressed in germ line. Is an ortholog of human ASH2L (ASH2 like, histone lysine methyltransferase complex subunit).
Map position created from combination of previous interpolated map position (based on known location of sequence) and allele information. Therefore this is not a genetic map position based on recombination frequencies or genetic experiments. This was done on advice of the CGC.