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Assessing Sequence-Specific DNA Binding and Transcriptional Activity of STAT1 Transcription Factor

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Transcription Factors

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 647))

Abstract

Continuous nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins is a key to understand their function as cytokine-responsive transcription factors. STATs enter the nucleus both by carrier-dependent and carrier-independent transport pathways, and it was previously shown that STAT1 exits the nucleus only after its prior enzymatic dephosphorylation by nuclear phosphatases. The identification of different transport pathways for unphosphorylated and tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT dimers was made possible by a combination of a diverse set of experimental approaches in the field of molecular biology. In the following, we will summarize some of the techniques that have been successfully used to decipher molecular mechanisms engaged in STAT1 dynamics.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Petra Lemke, Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut fĂĽr Molekulare Pharmacology, Berlin, for providing us with Fig. 10. Financial support was provided by the Leibniz-Institut fĂĽr Molekulare Pharmakologie, and grants VI 218/4 and ME 1648/2-1 from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to U.V. and T.M., respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, Marburg, Germany

    Thomas Meyer

  2. Queen’s Medical Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham, UK

    Uwe Vinkemeier

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  1. Thomas Meyer
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  2. Uwe Vinkemeier
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Correspondence to Uwe Vinkemeier .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ctr. Cell Biology & Cancer Research, Albany Medical College, New Scotland Ave. 47, Albany, 12208, New York, USA

    Paul J. Higgins

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Meyer, T., Vinkemeier, U. (2010). Assessing Sequence-Specific DNA Binding and Transcriptional Activity of STAT1 Transcription Factor. In: Higgins, P. (eds) Transcription Factors. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 647. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-738-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-738-9_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-737-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-738-9

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