Transcription Factors

Antibodies for the Analysis of Transcription Factors

Immunofluorescent analysis of GATA1

U251 cells were probed with GATA1 polyclonal antibody (AHP2401) (green) and counterstained with phalloidin (F-actin, red)

Transcription factors (TFs) along with RNA splicing, siRNA and histone modifications regulate the translatome. TFs are identifiable through their expression of a specific DNA binding domain (DBD). TFs, via their DBD, recognize and bind to a particular sequence of DNA. TFs work by promoting or blocking the recruitment of RNA polymerase. TFs commonly possess several functional domains which along with DNA binding facilitate interactions with other TFs, coactivators, chromatin, and small non-coding RNA.

TFs are often the apex or final readout of cell signaling pathways. TF activity is regulated by several means including phosphorylation, ligand binding and cellular localization. Phosphorylation of a TF can induce conformational changes in the protein allowing it to bind other TFs or co-factors which leads to transcriptional changes. Binding of cell permeable ligands (e.g. estrogen) to nuclear receptor TFs (e.g. estrogen receptor) can also induce the transcriptional effect of the TFs. Upon phosphorylation and other post translational modifications TFs can alter their cellular localization thereby enabling or preventing their transcriptional effects.

Groups / Classes

Transcription factors are grouped according the DNA binding domains they express. The major groups are as follows:

Classes of Transcription Factors

Examples

Superclass: basic domains

bZIP, bHLH, bHLH-ZIP, NF-1, RF-X, bHSH

Superclass: zinc-coordinating DNA-binding domains

Cys4 zinc finger of nuclear receptor type, diverseCys4 zinc fingers

Superclass: helix-turn-helix

Paired box, fork head/winged helix, heat shock factors

Superclass: beta-scaffold factors with minor groove contacts

RHR, STAT, p53, TATA binding proteins, grainyhead, runt

Superclass: other transcription factors

HMGI(Y)(HMGA1), E1A-like factors, AP2/EREBP-related factors

The vital role played by TFs is illustrated by their implication in several diseases including cancer. The most common oncogenes and tumor suppressors are TFs including c-myc, p53, NFkB, and STATs.

Our Transcription Factor Antibody Range

    DescriptionSpecificityTargetFormatHostIsotypeClone Applications Citations Product Type Code Validation Types