Activating transcription factor explained

Activating transcription factor, ATF, is a group of bZIP transcription factors, which act as homodimers or heterodimers with a range of other bZIP factors.^[1] First, they have been described as members of the CREB/ATF family,^[2] whereas it turned out later that some of them might be more similar to AP-1-like factors such as c-Jun or c-Fos.^[3] 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.^[4] Another example of ATFs function would be ATFx that can suppress apoptosis.^[5]

Genes include ATF1, ATF2, ATF3, ATF4, ATF5, ATF6, ATF7, ATFx.

References

1. van Dam H, Castellazzi M . Distinct roles of Jun : Fos and Jun : ATF dimers in oncogenesis . Oncogene . 20 . 19 . 2453–64 . 2001 . 11402340 . 10.1038/sj.onc.1204239.
2. Karin M1, Smeal T . Control of transcription factors by signal transduction pathways: the beginning of the end . Trends Biochem Sci. 17 . 10 . 418–22 . 1992 . 1455510 . 10.1016/0968-0004(92)90012-x.
3. Web site: Classification of Human Transcription Factors (TFClass) . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072323/http://tfclass.bioinf.med.uni-goettingen.de/tfclass . 2014-04-07 . dead .
4. 2001-07-25. The molecular biology and nomenclature of the activating transcription factor/cAMP responsive element binding family of transcription factors: activating transcription factor proteins and homeostasis. Gene. en. 273. 1. 1–11. 10.1016/S0378-1119(01)00551-0. 11483355. 0378-1119. Hai. Tsonwin. Hartman. Matthew G..
5. Green. M. R.. Persengiev. S. P.. 2003-06-01. The role of ATF/CREB family members in cell growth, survival and apoptosis. Apoptosis. en. 8. 3. 225–228. 10.1023/A:1023633704132. 12766482. 20838853. 1573-675X.