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Molecular mechanisms of cAMP-regulated gene expression

Molecular Neurobiology volume 4, pages 197–210 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

The ability of many genes to be induced by cAMP is dependent on the presence of enhancers located in the regions of DNA upstream of the start sites to the genes. The two best characterized enhancers are the CRE (5′-TGACGTCA-3′) and the AP-2 site (5′-CCCCAGGC-3′). The activity of the CRE is modulated by sequences adjacent to the consensus sequence as well as by promoter context and cell type. The complex control of the CRE is reflected in the large number of cloned CRE binding proteins that arise both from unique genes and from splice variants. These factors are leucine zipper proteins that must dimerize before binding to DNA. Although all of the factors isolated can form active homodimers, many, are also able to form heterodimers. The, amino termini of these proteins contain consensus phosphorylation sites through which these factorstrans-activate their cognate promoters. The diversity of thetrans-acting factors and theircis-acting sequences reflects the precise control that cells require in the modulation of gene expression by cAMP.

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  1. Vollum Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research, Oregon Health Sclences University, 97201, Portland, OR

    Kevin M. Walton & Robert P. Rehfuss

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Walton, K.M., Rehfuss, R.P. Molecular mechanisms of cAMP-regulated gene expression. Mol Neurobiol 4, 197–210 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02780341

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Index Entries

  • CRE
  • AP-2
  • CRE-binding proteins
  • CREB
  • cAMP
  • gene expression