Transcription Factors

TAB2 (TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 and MAP3K7-binding protein 2) is an activator of MAP3K7/TAK1, which is required for for the IL-1 induced activation of nuclear factor kappaB and MAPK8/JNK. This protein forms a kinase complex with TRAF6, MAP3K7 and TAB1, thus serves as an adaptor linking MAP3K7 and TRAF6. TAB2 with TAB1, and MAP3K7 also participate in the signal transduction induced by TNFSF11/RANKl through the activation of the receptor activator of NF-kappB (TNFRSF11A/RANK), which may regulate the development and function of osteoclasts.

CRTC2 (CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2, Torc2) is a CREB coactivator, regulating glucose homeaostatis. Glucose homeostasis is regulated by hormones and cellular energy status. Elevations of blood glucose during feeding stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β-cells through a glucose sensing pathway. Feeding also stimulates release of gut hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which further induces insulin release, inhibits glucagon release and promotes β-cell viability. CREB-dependent transcription likely plays a role in both glucose sensing and GLP-1 signaling.

Pax-8 (Paired box protein Pax-8) is a transcription factor involved in thyroid-specific gene expression, maintaining the functional differentiation of such cells. Defects in Pax-8 are the cause of congenital hypothyroidism non-goitrous type 2 (CHNG2). CHNG2 is a disease characterized by thyroid dysgenesis, the most frequent cause of congenital hypothyroidism, accounting for 85% of cases.

WIF1 (Wnt inhibitory factor 1) is a member of the WNT signaling pathway. WIF1 inhibits WNT proteins, which are extracellular signaling molecules that play a role in embryonic development. This protein contains a WNT inhibitory factor (WIF) domain and five epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains, and is thought to be involved in mesoderm segmentation.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors are members of a family transcription factors regulated by the binding of their cognate ligands. The interaction of hormone bound estrogen receptors with estrogen responsive elements (EREs) alters transcription of ERE-containing genes. The carboxy terminal region of the estrogen receptor contains the ligand binding domain, the amino terminus serves as the transactivation domain and the DNA binding domain is centrally located. Two forms of estrogen receptor have been identified, ER alpha and ER beta.