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. 1997 Sep;17(9):4957–4966. doi: 10.1128/mcb.17.9.4957

Interaction of ATF6 and serum response factor.

C Zhu 1, F E Johansen 1, R Prywes 1
PMCID: PMC232347  PMID: 9271374

Abstract

Serum response factor (SRF) is a transcription factor which binds to the serum response element (SRE) in the c-fos promoter. It is required for regulated expression of the c-fos gene as well as other immediate-early genes and some tissue-specific genes. To better understand the regulation of SRF, we used a yeast interaction assay to screen a human HeLa cell cDNA library for SRF-interacting proteins. ATF6, a basic-leucine zipper protein, was isolated by binding to SRF and in particular to its transcriptional activation domain. The binding of ATF6 to SRF was also detected in vitro. An ATF6-VP16 chimera activated expression of an SRE reporter gene in HeLa cells, suggesting that ATF6 can interact with endogenous SRF. More strikingly, an antisense ATF6 construct reduced serum induction of a c-fos reporter gene, suggesting that ATF6 is involved in activation of transcription by SRF. ATF6 was previously partially cloned as a member of the ATF family. The complete cDNA of ATF6 was isolated, and its expression pattern was described.

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Selected References

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