activating transcription factor 6
Symbol
Organism
Description
This gene encodes a transcription factor that activates target genes for the unfolded protein response (UPR) during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Although it is a transcription factor, this protein is unusual in that it is synthesized as a transmembrane protein that is embedded in the ER. It functions as an ER stress sensor/transducer, and following ER stress-induced proteolysis, it functions as a nuclear transcription factor via a cis-acting ER stress response element (ERSE) that is present in the promoters of genes encoding ER chaperones. This protein has been identified as a survival factor for quiescent but not proliferative squamous carcinoma cells. There have been conflicting reports about the association of polymorphisms in this gene with diabetes in different populations, but another polymorphism has been associated with increased plasma cholesterol levels. This gene is also thought to be a potential therapeutic target for cystic fibrosis. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2011]
Orthologs
| Symbol | Species | |
|---|---|---|
| atf-6 | Caenorhabditis elegans | |
| atf6 | Danio rerio | |
| Atf6 | Mus musculus | |
| Atf6 | Rattus norvegicus |
Links to external resources
Changes associated with this gene
| Identifier | Name | Type | Tissues | Organism | Gene | Data | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAA2877 | Gene expression of ATF6 decreases with age | Molecular | adipose tissue | Human | ATF6 | — | |
| DAA3692 | Gene expression of ATF6 decreases with age | Molecular | skin | Human | ATF6 | — |
GO Terms
| GO ID | GO Term | GO Category | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GO:0006357 | regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter | biological_process | |
| GO:0006457 | protein folding | biological_process | |
| GO:0006950 | response to stress | biological_process | |
| GO:0006986 | response to unfolded protein | biological_process | |
| GO:0006987 | activation of signaling protein activity involved in unfolded protein response | biological_process | |
| GO:0006990 | positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter involved in unfolded protein response | biological_process | |
| GO:0007165 | signal transduction | biological_process | |
| GO:0030968 | endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response | biological_process | |
| GO:0000139 | Golgi membrane | cellular_component | |
| GO:0005634 | nucleus | cellular_component | |
| GO:0005635 | nuclear envelope | cellular_component | |
| GO:0005654 | nucleoplasm | cellular_component | |
| GO:0005783 | endoplasmic reticulum | cellular_component | |
| GO:0005789 | endoplasmic reticulum membrane | cellular_component | |
| GO:0016020 | membrane | cellular_component | |
| GO:0016021 | integral to membrane | cellular_component | |
| GO:0003700 | sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity | molecular_function | |
| GO:0003713 | transcription coactivator activity | molecular_function | |
| GO:0005515 | protein binding | molecular_function | |
| GO:0043565 | sequence-specific DNA binding | molecular_function | |
| GO:0046983 | protein dimerization activity | molecular_function | |