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Abstract
AP-1 (activating protein-1) is a collective term referring to dimeric transcription
factors composed of Jun, Fos or ATF (activating transcription factor) subunits that
bind to a common DNA site, the AP-1-binding site. As the complexity of our knowledge
of AP-1 factors has increased, our understanding of their physiological function has
decreased. This trend, however, is beginning to be reversed due to the recent studies
of gene-knockout mice and cell lines deficient in specific AP-1 components. Such studies
suggest that different AP-1 factors may regulate different target genes and thus execute
distinct biological functions. Also, the involvement of AP-1 factors in functions
such as cell proliferation and survival has been made somewhat clearer as a result
of such studies. In addition, there has been considerable progress in understanding
some of the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of AP-1 activity.
In addition to regulation by heterodimerization between Jun, Fos and ATF proteins,
AP-1 activity is regulated through interactions with specific protein kinases and
a variety of transcriptional coactivators.