Abstract: The C/EBP proteins form a family of transcription factors with at least seven members. These proteins consist of three structural components which include a C-terminal leucine-zipper, a basic DNA-binding region and aN-terminal transactivating region. Dimerization through the leucine-zipper leads to formation of homo- and heterodimers which then bind with their two basic regions to often non-symmetric DNA-sequences in the promoter/enhancer regions of a variety of genes. Expression of C/EBP is prominent in adipocytes, hepatocytes and monocytes/macrophages, and here these proteins are involved in tissue-specific gene expression. Target genes for C/EBP include those for acute phase response genes in liver cells and for cytokine genes in monocytes/macrophages. Therefore, intervention at the level of C/EBP transcription factors may prove effective in controlling immune response.
Publication Year: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-07-01
Language: en
Type: review
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 235
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