Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Unfolded Protein Response in HIV-1 Replication and Infectivity
10:12

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Unfolded Protein Response in HIV-1 Replication and Infectivity

Published on: June 14, 2024

2.8K

The stress responsive transcription factor ATF4: from molecular structure to disease mechanisms

Jian-Rong Yuan1, Jie Tang1, Rui Sheng1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Pharmacology and Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Translational Research for Brain Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.

Journal of Advanced Research
|March 14, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) stability and function are regulated by epigenetic modifications and post-translational modifications (PTMs). These mechanisms impact stress responses and disease, offering therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) regulates cell survival and death through stress response pathways.
  • ATF4 protein levels are controlled by translational regulation, epigenetic modifications, and post-translational modifications (PTMs).
  • Dysregulation of ATF4 is implicated in cancer, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in epigenetic and PTM-mediated regulation of ATF4.
  • To clarify the multifaceted roles of ATF4 in pathological processes.
  • To highlight ATF4 as a potential therapeutic target.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific publications.
  • Analysis of studies on epigenetic modifications affecting ATF4.
  • Examination of research on post-translational modifications (PTMs) of ATF4.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic modifications and PTMs are crucial for fine-tuning ATF4 activity.
  • These regulatory mechanisms influence ATF4-dependent stress responses.
  • ATF4 regulation by epigenetic and PTMs contributes to disease progression.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic and PTMs are key regulators of ATF4 stability and function.
  • Understanding these regulations provides insights into disease pathogenesis.
  • Targeting ATF4 regulatory mechanisms offers potential therapeutic strategies for various diseases.
Keywords:
ATF4AutophagyEpigenetic modificationIntegrated stress responseOxidative stressPost-translational modification

More Related Videos

Mapping the Structure-Function Relationships of Disordered Oncogenic Transcription Factors Using Transcriptomic Analysis09:58

Mapping the Structure-Function Relationships of Disordered Oncogenic Transcription Factors Using Transcriptomic Analysis

Published on: June 27, 2020

3.2K
Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans10:36

Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans

Published on: May 21, 2020

15.2K

Related Concept Videos

The Unfolded Protein Response01:37

The Unfolded Protein Response

The ER is the hub of protein synthesis in a cell. It has robust systems to quality control protein folding and also for degradation of terminally misfolded proteins. Under normal conditions, a small proportion of misfolded proteins that cannot be salvaged need to be transported to the cytoplasm by the ER-associated degradation or ERAD pathways. However, if the ERAD cannot handle the misfolded proteins, the cell activates the unfolded protein response or UPR to adjust the protein folding...
6.7K
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
7.4K
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
8.0K
Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
83.5K
Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

26.5K
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response01:31

Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response

Inositol-requiring kinase one or IRE1 is the most conserved eukaryotic unfolded protein response (UPR) receptor. It is a type I transmembrane protein kinase receptor with a distinctive site-specific RNase activity. As the binding mechanics of the misfolded proteins with the N-terminal domain of IRE-1 are unclear, three binding models — direct, indirect, and allosteric -- are proposed for receptor activation. Nevertheless, it is known that once a misfolded protein associates with IRE1, it...
3.2K