AP-1 transcription factor



In the field of molecular biology, the activator protein 1 (AP-1) is a transcription factor which is a heterodimeric protein composed of proteins belonging to the c-Fos, c-Jun, ATF and JDP families. It regulates gene expression in response to a variety of stimuli, including cytokines, growth factors, stress, and bacterial and viral infections. AP-1 in turn controls a number of cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis.

AP-1 upregulates transcription of genes containing the TPA DNA response element (TRE; 5'-TGAG/CTCA-3'). AP-1 binds to this DNA sequence via a basic amino acid region, while the dimeric structure is formed by a leucine zipper.