title: The cAMP response element binding protein, CREB, is a potent inhibitor of diverse transcriptional activators.
abstract: Cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) activates transcription of cAMP response element (CRE)-containing promoters following an elevation of intracellular cAMP. Here we show that CREB and the highly related protein ATF-1 are also potent transcription inhibitors. Strikingly, CREB inhibits transcription of multiple activators, whose DNA-binding domains and activation regions are unrelated to one another. Inhibition requires that the CREB dimerization and DNA-binding domains are intact. However, inhibition is not dependent upon the presence of a CRE in the promoter, and does not involve heterodimer formation between CREB and the activator. The ability of an activator protein to inhibit transcription in such a promiscuous fashion has not been previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01605.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lemaigre
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Ace
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D051696:Activating Transcription Factors; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D000882:Haplorhini; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010957:Plasmids; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D051696:Activating Transcription Factors; D001798:Blood Proteins; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C052130:GAL4 protein, S cerevisiae; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D011494:Protein Kinases