Activation of the AP-1 family of transcription factors

Activation of the AP-1 family of transcription factors Activator protein-1 (AP-1) is a collective term referring to a group of transcription factors that bind to promoters of target genes in a sequence-specific manner. AP-1 family consists of hetero- and homodimers of bZIP (basic region leucine zipper) proteins, mainly of Jun-Jun, Jun-Fos or Jun-ATF. AP-1 members are involved in the regulation of a number of cellular processes including cell growth, proliferation, survival, apoptosis, differentiation, cell migration. The ability of a single transcription factor to determine a cell fate critically depends on the relative abundance of AP-1 subunits, the composition of AP-1 dimers, the quality of stimulus, the cell type, the co-factor assembly. AP-1 activity is regulated on multiple levels; transcriptional, translational and post-translational control mechanisms contribute to the balanced production of AP-1 proteins and their functions. Briefly, regulation occurs through:effects on jun, fos, atf gene transcription and mRNA turnover. AP-1 protein members turnover. post-translational modifications of AP-1 proteins that modulate their transactivation potential (effect of protein kinases or phosphatases).interactions with other transcription factors that can either induce or interfere with AP-1 activity.