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Interaction of ATF6 and serum response factor
C Zhu1, F E Johansen, R Prywes
1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
|September 1, 1997
Summary
This study identifies ATF6 as a novel protein that interacts with serum response factor (SRF). ATF6 plays a role in activating transcription of the c-fos gene, regulated by SRF.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Gene Regulation
Background:
- Serum response factor (SRF) is a transcription factor crucial for regulating immediate-early genes, including c-fos.
- SRF binds to the serum response element (SRE) in the c-fos promoter, controlling gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify proteins that interact with SRF and elucidate their role in gene regulation.
- To investigate the function of ATF6 in SRF-mediated transcription.
Main Methods:
- Yeast interaction assay to screen for SRF-binding proteins from a human HeLa cell cDNA library.
- In vitro binding assays and reporter gene assays (SRE and c-fos) in HeLa cells.
- Antisense ATF6 construct to assess its role in serum induction of c-fos.
Main Results:
- ATF6, a basic-leucine zipper protein, was identified as an SRF-interacting protein, binding to its transcriptional activation domain.
- ATF6 demonstrated interaction with endogenous SRF, activating SRE reporter gene expression.
- Antisense ATF6 reduced serum induction of the c-fos reporter gene, indicating ATF6's involvement in SRF-mediated transcription.
Conclusions:
- ATF6 is a novel co-activator that interacts with SRF to regulate c-fos gene expression.
- ATF6 is essential for the activation of transcription mediated by SRF.
- The complete cDNA of ATF6 was isolated, and its expression pattern was characterized.