The activating transcription factor ATF-2 (also called CRE-BP1) binds to both AP-1 and CRE DNA response elements and is a member of the ATF/CREB family of leucine zipper proteins. ATF-2 has been implicated in the transcriptional regulation of a number of genes including cytokines, cell cycle control and apoptosis. Various forms of cellular stress, including inflammatory cytokines and UV irradiation, stimulate the transcriptional activity of ATF-2. Stress induced ATF-dependent transcription is dependent on phosphorylation of ATF. Serine 490 and serine 498 are novel phosphorylation sites on ATF that have recently been identified. In addition, ATF2 is particularly abundant in the brain and the ATF2 family of transcription factors is considered important substrates of signals upstream of the activation of genes associated with neuronal growth and differentiation. ATF expression has also been linked to the depression in humans.1) Laifenfeld, D., Karry, R., Grauer, E., Klein, E., and Ben-Shachar, D. "ATF2, a member of the CREB/ATF family of transcription factors, in chronicstress and consequent to antidepressant treatment: animal models and humanpost-mortem brains." Neuropsychopharmacology, 29 (2004) 589 - 97.
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