The role of ATF-2 in oncogenesis.

Abstract

Activating Transcription Factor-2 is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that belongs to the bZIP family of proteins and plays diverse roles in the mammalian cells. In response to stress stimuli, it activates a variety of gene targets including cyclin A, cyclin D and c-jun, which are involved in oncogenesis in various tissue types. ATF-2 expression has been correlated with maintenance of a cancer cell phenotype. However, other studies demonstrate an antiproliferative or apoptotic role for ATF-2. In this review, we summarize the signaling pathways that activate ATF-2, as well as its downstream targets. We examine the role of ATF-2 in carcinogenesis with respect to other bZIP proteins, using data from studies in human cancer cell lines, human tumours and mouse models, and we propose a potential model for its function in carcinogenesis, as well as a theoretical basis for its utility in anticancer drug design.

• Authors: Spiros A Vlahopoulos, Stella Logotheti, Dimitris Mikas, Athina Giarika, Vassilis Gorgoulis, Vassilis Zoumpourlis
• Journal: BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology (Bioessays) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 314-27 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 1521-1878 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18348191 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• ATF2 protein, human
• Activating Transcription Factor 2
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Transcription Factors

Topics

• Activating Transcription Factor 2 (genetics, metabolism, physiology)
• Animals
• Apoptosis
• Cell Adhesion
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• DNA-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Dimerization
• Humans
• Mice
• Models, Biological
• Models, Genetic
• Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Transcription Factors (metabolism)