title: Punctum on two different transcription factors regulated by PGC-1α: nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 and nuclear respiratory factor 2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (official symbol: NFE2L2, alias: Nrf2) is a master regulator of antioxidant defense system, which makes it an attractive target for manipulations that aim to increase cellular resistance to oxidative stress. Nuclear respiratory factor 2 or GA binding protein transcription factor alpha (official symbol: GABPA, alias: NRF2) functions as a transcription factor that activates the expression of some key metabolic genes regulating cellular growth and nuclear genes required for mitochondrial respiration as well as mitochondrial DNA transcription and replication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Despite the evident structural and functional differences, confusion has occurred in bibliographic databases due to the shared symbol NRF2 for these transcription factors. Such confusion has worsened after the discovery that the transcriptional co-activator peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) could control the signaling pathway of both NFE2L2 and GABPA through distinct molecular mechanisms. This review will summarize the implications of NFE2L2 and GABPA in various human patho-physiological conditions and how PGC-1α can regulate their different signaling axis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review underlines the overlapping functions between PGC-1α, NFE2L2 and GABPA, which alteration could induce the development of human pathological states.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The comprehension of molecular mechanisms that modulate the intersection between these proteins will be important to identify new signaling axis involved in lifespan extension as well as novel targets for therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department Biology, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldelli
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aquilano
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ciriolo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D011786:Quality Control; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051268:GA-Binding Protein Transcription Factor; C495661:GABPA protein, human; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C486497:PPARGC1A protein, human; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D014157:Transcription Factors