title: Ultraviolet A radiation-induced expression of human genes: molecular and photobiological mechanisms.
abstract: Increased gene expression as a consequence of environmental stress is typically observed in mammalian cells upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In previous years the cis- and trans-acting genetic elements responsible for gene induction by short wavelength UVC (< 280nm) and intermediate wavelength UVB (280 - 320 nm) radiation have been well characterized. More recently, progress has also been made in understanding the mechanisms by which long wavelength UVA (320 - 400 nm) radiation induces transcriptional activation of human genes. From these studies it is now known that the photobiological as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in UVA radiation-induced gene expression differ from those previously identified for UVB- or UVC-induced gene expression. In particular, the reactive oxygen species singlet oxygen was found to serve as the primary effector in UVA radiation-induced gene expression by inducing a signal transduction cascade that depends on activation of transcription factor AP-2. These studies indicate a previously unrecognized role of AP-2 in the mammalian stress response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grether-Beck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krutmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D018462:Photobiology; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2; D014157:Transcription Factors