AATF - Apoptosis Antagonizing Transcription Factor | Elisa - Clia - Antibody - Protein

Background

AATF (Apoptosis Antagonizing Transcription Factor), also known as Che-1, is a transcription factor involved in various cellular processes, including the regulation of apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and DNA damage response. It acts as a survival factor by inhibiting apoptotic pathways and promoting cell proliferation and survival.It also interacts directly with nuclear hormone receptors to enhance their transactivation. This gene product contains a leucine zipper, which is a characteristic motif of transcription factors, and was shown to exhibit strong transactivation activity when fused to Gal4 DNA binding domain. Overexpression of this gene interfered with MAP3K12 induced apoptosis

Structural Features

AATF is characterized by the presence of several key domains and motifs that contribute to its function:

• Transactivation Domain: Enables interaction with other transcriptional machinery components to activate gene expression.
• Leucine Zipper Domain: Facilitates dimerization and protein-protein interactions, crucial for its function as a transcription factor.
• Nuclear Localization Signal (NLS): Directs the protein to the nucleus where it can perform its transcriptional regulatory functions.

Subtypes and Classification

AATF does not have widely recognized subtypes, but its classification can be attributed to its role and domain structure:

• Transcription Factor: Due to its role in regulating gene expression.
• Anti-apoptotic Protein: Given its function in inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell survival.

Ligands and Interactions

AATF interacts with various proteins and ligands, including:

• RNA Polymerase II: Directly interacts to facilitate transcriptional activation.
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs): Involved in cell cycle regulation through interactions with CDKs.
• p53: Modulates the activity of p53, a key tumor suppressor protein, particularly in the context of DNA damage response.
• CREB-binding protein (CBP): A co-activator that enhances the transcriptional activity of AATF.

Physiological Functions

AATF is involved in several critical cellular processes:

• Regulation of Apoptosis: By antagonizing apoptotic signals, AATF promotes cell survival under stress conditions.
• Cell Cycle Progression: Facilitates the transition through different phases of the cell cycle, ensuring proper cell division.
• DNA Damage Response: Plays a role in the cellular response to DNA damage, helping maintain genomic stability.
• Transcriptional Regulation: Activates or represses the expression of target genes involved in various cellular functions.

Clinical Implications

Alterations in AATF expression or function have been linked to several clinical conditions:

• Cancer: Overexpression of AATF has been observed in various cancers, where it promotes tumor cell survival and proliferation by inhibiting apoptosis.
• Neurodegenerative Diseases: Given its role in cell survival, dysregulation of AATF may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative conditions.
• Cardiovascular Diseases: Implicated in the cellular response to stress and damage in cardiovascular tissues.