Steroidogenesis is a tightly regulated process that is dependent on pituitary hormones. In steroidogenic tissues, hormonal stimulation triggers activation of an intracellular signalling pathway that typically involves @entity268 production, activation of PKA, and phosphorylation of target transcription factors. In the classic @entity268 signalling pathway, phosphorylation of @entity10366 ( @entity268 response element (CRE)-binding protein) and its subsequent binding to @entity268 -response elements (CREs) in the regulatory regions of target genes play a key role in mediating @entity268 responsiveness. However, the @entity268 responsive regions of several genes expressed in steroidogenic tissues do not contain consensus CREs indicating that other transcription factors are also involved. We have been studying the role played by the @entity10221 family of transcription factors. @entity10221 factors are expressed in a variety of tissues including the adrenals and gonads. Since the regulatory regions of several steroidogenic genes contain @entity10221 elements, we have proposed that @entity10221 factors, particularly @entity15774 and @entity43289 , might represent novel downstream effectors of hormonal signalling in steroidogenic tissues. In vitro experiments have revealed that @entity15774 is indeed phosphorylated in steroidogenic cells and that phosphorylation levels are rapidly induced by @entity268 . @entity15774 phosphorylation is mediated by PKA. Phosphorylation increases @entity15774 DNA-binding activity and enhances its transcriptional properties on multiple steroidogenic promoters. We now define a new molecular mechanism whereby phospho- @entity10221 factors contribute to increased transcription of steroidogenic genes in response to hormonal stimulation.

Novel roles for XXXX transcription factors in the regulation of steroidogenesis.

@entity268 :: ('CHEBI:17489', 'Chemical') :: ['cAMP'] @entity43289 :: ('2627', 'Gene') :: ['GATA-6'] @entity10366 :: ('1385', 'Gene') :: ['CREB'] @entity10221 :: ('55278', 'Gene') :: ['GATA'] @entity15774 :: ('2626', 'Gene') :: ['GATA-4']
@entity10221 :: (55278,Gene) :: ['GATA']
