E2F2(E2F transcription factor 2) also called E2F-2, is a member of the E2F family of transcription factors. The E2F family plays a crucial role in the control of cell cycle and action of tumor suppressor proteins and is also a target of the transforming proteins of small DNA tumor viruses. The E2F2 gene is mapped to 1p36 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed the specific binding of E2F2 to ECE1b promoter sequences containing either allele of the C-338A polymorphism, with the -338A allele being associated with an increased affinity to E2F2 compared with -338C. The ability of Myc to induce S phase was impaired in the absence of either E2f2 or E2f3 but not E2f1 or E2f4. In contrast, the ability of Myc to induce apoptosis was markedly reduced in cells deleted for E2f1 but not E2f2 or E2f3.