Signal Transduction and Activation of Gene Transcription by Interferons

Advances in the field of interferon research have identified a signal transduction pathway that initiates at a cell surface receptor and culminates at target genes in the nucleus. The binding of interferon to a transmembrane receptor stimulates the concomitant activation of tyrosine kinases of the J...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gene expression 1995-01, Vol.5 (1), p.1-18
Main Authors: GILMOUR, KIMBERLY C., REICH, NANCY C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Base Sequence
Cell Nucleus - metabolism
Cytokines
Cytokines - physiology
Gene Expression Regulation - physiology
Gene Transcription Activation
Growth Substances - physiology
Humans
Interferons
Interferons - physiology
Models, Biological
Molecular Sequence Data
Multigene Family
Phosphorylation
Protein Processing, Post-Translational
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - classification
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism
Receptors, Interferon - physiology
Review
Signal Transduction
Signal Transduction - physiology
Transcription Factors - physiology
Transcription, Genetic - physiology
Tyrosine Kinases
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Summary:Advances in the field of interferon research have identified a signal transduction pathway that initiates at a cell surface receptor and culminates at target genes in the nucleus. The binding of interferon to a transmembrane receptor stimulates the concomitant activation of tyrosine kinases of the Janus kinase (JAK) family. Subsequently, latent cytoplasmic transcription factors are activated by tyrosine phosphorylation and function as signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). The STATs form homomeric or heteromeric protein complexes that translocate to the nucleus to bind to specific DNA sequences in the promoters of stimulated genes. The discovery of this regulated pathway in the interferon system served as a paradigm for receptor to nucleus signal transmission by a variety of cytokines.
ISSN:1052-2166
1555-3884