title: MAPK-regulated transcription: a continuously variable gene switch?
abstract: Switching mechanisms that control genes could be viewed either as stable binary switches, in which genes exist in 'on' or 'off' states; or as quantitative rheostat-like switches, in which the rate of transcription is continuously variable and coupled directly to the strength of intracellular signalling events. Here, we discuss the biological need for quantitative gene regulation and, using mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-controlled transcription as a model, assess the evidence for its existence and postulate mechanisms by which it might occur.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hazzalin
authors.forename: Louis C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases