activating transcription factor 6

Symbol

ATF6 (may also be known as: None)

Organism

Human

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

SymbolSpecies
atf-6 Caenorhabditis elegans
atf6 Danio rerio
Atf6 Mus musculus
Atf6 Rattus norvegicus

Links to external resources

Changes associated with this gene

GO Terms

GO IDGO TermGO 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