Activating transcription factor, ATF, is a group of
bZIP transcription factor
In molecular biology, a transcription factor (TF) (or sequence-specific DNA-binding factor) is a protein that controls the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA, by binding to a specific DNA sequence. The f ...
s, which act as homodimers or heterodimers with a range of other bZIP factors.
First, they have been described as members of the
CREB/ATF family,
whereas it turned out later that some of them might be more similar to
AP-1-like factors such as
c-Jun
Transcription factor Jun is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''JUN'' gene. c-Jun, in combination with protein c-Fos, forms the AP-1 early response transcription factor. It was first identified as the Fos-binding protein p39 and only la ...
or
c-Fos
Protein c-Fos is a proto-oncogene that is the human homolog of the retroviral oncogene v-fos. It is encoded in humans by the ''FOS'' gene. It was first discovered in rat fibroblasts as the transforming gene of the FBJ MSV (Finkel–Biskis–Jink ...
.
In general, ATFs are known to respond to extracellular signals and this suggests an important role that they have in maintaining homeostasis. Some of these ATFs, such as ATF3, ATF4, and ATF6 are known to play a role in stress responses. Another example of ATFs function would be ATFx that can suppress apoptosis.
Genes include
ATF1
Cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor ATF-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''ATF1'' gene.
This gene encodes an activating transcription factor, which belongs to the ATF subfamily and bZIP (basic-region leucine zipper) family. ...
,
ATF2
Activating transcription factor 2, also known as ATF2, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the ''ATF2'' gene.
Function
This gene encodes a transcription factor that is a member of the leucine zipper family of DNA-binding proteins. T ...
,
ATF3
Cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor ATF-3 is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the ''ATF3'' gene.
Function
Activating transcription factor 3 is a member of the mammalian activation transcription factor/cAMP responsive element-bin ...
,
ATF4
Activating transcription factor 4 (tax-responsive enhancer element B67), also known as ATF4, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''ATF4'' gene.
Function
This gene encodes a transcription factor that was originally identified as a wi ...
,
ATF5,
ATF6
Activating transcription factor 6, also known as ATF6, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the ''ATF6'' gene and is involved in the unfolded protein response.
Function
ATF6 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-regulated transmembr ...
,
ATF7, ATFx.
References
External links
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Transcription factors
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