title: The role of ATF-2 in oncogenesis.
abstract: Activating Transcription Factor-2 is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that belongs to the bZIP family of proteins and plays diverse roles in the mammalian cells. In response to stress stimuli, it activates a variety of gene targets including cyclin A, cyclin D and c-jun, which are involved in oncogenesis in various tissue types. ATF-2 expression has been correlated with maintenance of a cancer cell phenotype. However, other studies demonstrate an antiproliferative or apoptotic role for ATF-2. In this review, we summarize the signaling pathways that activate ATF-2, as well as its downstream targets. We examine the role of ATF-2 in carcinogenesis with respect to other bZIP proteins, using data from studies in human cancer cell lines, human tumours and mouse models, and we propose a potential model for its function in carcinogenesis, as well as a theoretical basis for its utility in anticancer drug design.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Biomedical Applications, Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spiros A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vlahopoulos
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Logotheti
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mikas
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giarika
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gorgoulis
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zoumpourlis
mesh_terms: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C497105:ATF2 protein, human; D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors