Transactivation

In the context of gene regulation, transactivation is increased rate of gene expression triggered either by biological processes or by artificial means, through expressing an intermediate (transactivator) protein. In the context of receptor signaling, transactivation occurs when one or more receptors activates another; receptor transactivation may result from crosstalk of their signaling cascades.[1][2]

Natural transactivation

Transactivation can be triggered either by endogenous cellular or viral proteins, so-called transactivators. These protein factors act in trans (i.e., intermolecularly). HIV and HTLV are just two of the many viruses that encode transactivators to enhance their own gene expression. These transactivators can also be associated with cancer if they start interacting and increasing expression of a cellular proto-oncogene. HTLV for instance has been associated with causing leukemia primarily through this process. Its transactivator (named tax) can interact with p40, causing overexpression of interleukin 2, interleukin receptors, GM-CSF and the transcription factor c-Fos. HTLV infects T-cells and so, with increased expression of these stimulatory cytokines and transcription factors, leads to uncontrolled proliferation of T-cells and hence lymphoma.

Artificial transactivation

Artificial transactivation of a gene is achieved by inserting into the genome at the appropriate area a transactivator gene and special promoter regions of DNA. The transactivator gene expresses a transcription factor that binds to specific promoter region of DNA. By binding to the promoter region of a gene, the transcription factor causes that gene to be expressed. The expression of one transactivator gene can activate multiple genes, as long as they have the specific promoter region attached. Because the expression of the transactivator gene can be controlled, transactivation can be used to turn genes on and off. If this specific promoter region is also attached to a reporter gene, we can see when the transactivator is being expressed.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "receptor transactivation". EMBL. GO Consortium. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Beaulieu JM, Espinoza S, Gainetdinov RR (January 2015). "Dopamine receptors - IUPHAR Review 13". Br. J. Pharmacol. 172 (1): 1–23. doi:10.1111/bph.12906. PMC 4280963. PMID 25671228. For instance,there are indications that both D1 and D2 receptors can trans-activate the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptor in neurons (Swift et al., 2011). These two dopamine receptors can also regulate calcium channels through a direct protein–protein interaction in vivo (Kisilevsky and Zamponi, 2008; Kisilevsky et al., 2008). Direct interaction of D1 and D2 receptors and Na+-K+-ATPase has also been demonstrated (Hazelwood et al., 2008; Blom et al., 2012).

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