Related Experiment Videos
Transcriptional regulation by cyclic AMP
1Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Abstract:
A number of hormones and growth factors have been shown to stimulate target cells via second messenger pathways that in turn regulate the phosphorylation of specific nuclear factors. The second messenger cyclic AMP, for example, regulates a striking number of physiologic processes, including intermediary metabolism, cellular proliferation, and neuronal signaling, by altering basic patterns of gene expression. Our understanding of cyclic AMP signaling in the nucleus has expanded considerably over the past decade, owing in large part to the characterization of cyclic AMP-responsive promoter elements, transcription factors that bind them, and signal-dependent coactivators that mediate target gene induction. More importantly, these studies have revealed new insights into biological problems as diverse as biological clocks and long-term memory. The purpose of this review is to describe the components of the cyclic AMP response unit and to analyze how these components cooperate to induce target gene expression in response to hormonal stimulation.
Insights
Hormones stimulate cells using cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathways. This review details how cAMP response units regulate gene expression for various physiological processes.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Signaling
- Gene Regulation
Background:
- Hormones and growth factors activate cellular responses through second messenger pathways.
- Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is a crucial second messenger regulating numerous physiological processes, including metabolism, proliferation, and neuronal signaling, by modulating gene expression.
- Recent advances have elucidated cAMP's nuclear signaling mechanisms, including responsive elements, transcription factors, and coactivators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the molecular components of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) response unit.
- To analyze the cooperative mechanisms by which these components induce target gene expression.
- To explore the role of cAMP signaling in hormonal stimulation and its impact on diverse biological problems.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on cyclic AMP signaling pathways.
- Analysis of research characterizing cyclic AMP-responsive promoter elements.
- Examination of transcription factors and coactivators involved in cAMP-mediated gene induction.
Main Results:
- Identification of key components within the cyclic AMP response unit.
- Elucidation of how these components interact to regulate gene expression.
- Demonstration of cAMP's role in diverse biological phenomena such as biological clocks and memory.
Conclusions:
- The cyclic AMP response unit is a complex system involving specific DNA elements, transcription factors, and coactivators.
- Understanding these components and their cooperation provides critical insights into gene regulation by hormones.
- This signaling pathway has broad implications for understanding fundamental biological processes.