The AP-2 family of transcription factors.
The AP-2 family of transcription factors consists of five different proteins in humans and mice: AP-2alpha, AP-2beta, AP-2gamma, AP-2delta and AP-2epsilon. Frogs and fish have known orthologs of some but not all of these proteins, and homologs of the family are also found in protochordates, insects and nematodes. The proteins have a characteristic helix-span-helix motif at the carboxyl terminus, which, together with a central basic region, mediates dimerization and DNA binding. The amino terminus contains the transactivation domain. AP-2 proteins are first expressed in primitive ectoderm of invertebrates and vertebrates; in vertebrates, they are also expressed in the emerging neural-crest cells, and AP-2alpha-/- animals have impairments in neural-crest-derived facial structures. AP-2beta is indispensable for kidney development and AP-2gamma is necessary for the formation of trophectoderm cells shortly after implantation; AP-2alpha and AP-2gamma levels are elevated in human mammary carcinoma and seminoma. The general functions of the family appear to be the cell-type-specific stimulation of proliferation and the suppression of terminal differentiation during embryonic development.
Eckert
Dawid
D
Department of Developmental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Sigmund-Freud Strasse 25, 53125 Bonn, Germany.
Buhl
Sandra
S
Weber
Susanne
S
Jäger
Richard
R
Schorle
Hubert
H
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D011485:Protein Binding; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2