Association of STATs with relatives and friends

• Published in: Trends in Cell Biology Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 106 - 111
• Main Authors: Chatterjee-Kishore, Moitreyee, Akker, Focco van den, Stark, George R
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2000
• Subjects: Animals; Crystallography, X-Ray; DNA - metabolism; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression; Humans; Janus kinase; Models, Molecular; Phosphorylation; Protein Binding - genetics; Protein–protein interaction; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - genetics; STAT; STAT1 Transcription Factor; Trans-Activators - genetics; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Tyrosine - metabolism; X-ray crystallography; X-ray crystallography; Signal transduction; STAT; Transcription; Cell biology; Janus kinase; Biochemistry; Protein–protein interaction
• ISSN: 0962-8924; 1879-3088
• DOI: 10.1016/S0962-8924(99)01709-2

Members of the STAT family of transcription factors are present in species as diverse as mammals, insects and slime molds. Discovered as mediators of interferon-induced signals, the STATs were later shown to drive many different ligand-induced responses through receptor-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and dimerization. STAT1 also functions as a transcription factor, essential for the efficient constitutive expression of certain genes, without needing tyrosine phosphorylation, and phosphorylated STAT1 dimers mediate suppression – rather than activation – of some genes. STATs are present in the cytoplasm of untreated cells in multiprotein complexes, which might aid in their nuclear translocation and differential binding to DNA, thus contributing to the specificity of STAT action. This review explores the diverse protein–protein interactions that underlie the multiple functions of the STATs.