title: Cooperative interaction of Zhangfei and ATF4 in transactivation of the cyclic AMP response element.
abstract: Zhangfei (ZF) is a basic region-leucine zipper protein that has been implicated in herpesvirus infection cycle and related cellular processes. Here we show both in vivo and in vitro data demonstrating that ZF is a novel cellular binding partner of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) (or CREB2). We found that ZF competed with ATF4 to form ATF4-ZF heterodimeric complexes through the bZIP regions. ZF enhanced ATF4 binding to the cAMP response element (CRE), and augmented activation of a CRE reporter by ATF4, in response to MEK1 activation. These results suggest an important role of ZF in the MEK1-ATF4 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Axelrod Building, Room 334, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ont., Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: Melissa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Cockram
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D051701:Activating Transcription Factor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D020218:Response Elements / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C105242:ALYREF protein, human; C497109:ATF4 protein, human; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; C411104:CREBZF protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051701:Activating Transcription Factor 4; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; C482125:MAP2K1 protein, human