title: Biological role of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein family of transcription factors.
abstract: CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) comprise a family of transcription factors that are critical for normal cellular differentiation and function in a variety of tissues. The prototypic C/EBP is a modular protein, consisting of an activation domain, a dimerization bZIP region, and a DNA-binding domain. All family members share the highly conserved dimerization domain, required for DNA binding, by which they form homo- and heterodimers with other family members. C/EBPs are least conserved in their activation domains and vary from strong activators to dominant negative repressors. The pleiotropic effects of C/EBPs are in part because of tissue- and stage-specific expression. Dimerization of different C/EBP proteins precisely modulates transcriptional activity of target genes. Recent work with mice deficient in specific C/EBPs underscores the effects of these factors in tissue development, function, and response to injury.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Gene Therapy Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1851, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekstrom-Himes
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Xanthopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors