Regulation of life and death by the zinc finger transcription factor Egr‐1

Abstract

The biosynthesis of the zinc finger transcription factor Egr-1 is stimulated by many extracellular signaling molecules including hormones, neurotransmitters, growth and differentiation factors, and cytotoxic metabolites. The 5 0 -flanking region of the Egr-1 gene contains genetic elements that are essential in connecting stimulation of the cells with enhanced transcription of the Egr-1 gene, and subsequently, transcription of Egr-1-responsive genes. Thus, Egr-1 links cellular signaling cascades with changes in the gene expression pattern. Many biological functions have been attributed to Egr-1. Here, we discuss evidence for Egr-1 control of cellular proliferation and programmed cell death.

The Early Growth Response Gene Egr2 (Alias Krox20) Is a Novel Transcriptional Target of Transforming Growth Factor-β that Is Up-Regulated in Systemic Sclerosis and Mediates Profibrotic Responses

“…6,7 These pleiotropic early-immediate gene products are induced in response to multiple extracellular signals, such as growth factors, cytokines, hypoxia, and mechanical forces associated with injury and cellular stress. Egr-1, Egr-2, and Egr-3 share conserved zinc finger DNA-binding domains that recognize a 9-bp GC-rich DNA sequence called Egr-binding element (EBS) found in multiple target gene promoters.…”

Induction of Transcription Factor Early Growth Response Protein 1 during HSV-1 Infection Promotes Viral Replication in Corneal Cells

“…4. Nucleosomal structure of viral genome: Egr-1 contains domains responsible for activation or repression [30,31], and the decision of cofactor recruiting may be decided by nucleosomal structure on the viral DNA or vice versa , particularly in latently infected neurons. For example, Nab2 (NGFI-A-binding protein 2 or Egr-1-binding protein 2) was a nuclear protein found to inhibit transcription induced by EGR particularly in chromatin context via nucleosomal remodeling [32].…”

Gene therapy vectors containing CArG elements from the Egr1 gene are activated by neutron irradiation, cisplatin and doxorubicin

“…The human Egr1 gene encodes a zinc finger transcription factor, induced after cellular injury or stress, that in turn activates downstream genes involved in growth and differentiation. 34 CArG sequences are the genetic elements in the Egr1 promoter that control the response of this gene to radiation, as delineated in a series of deletion experiments. 14 The serum response factor is known to bind to CArG elements (also known as serum response elements) during mitogenic activation of Egr1, but whether specific transcription factors are also involved in the radiation response is yet unknown.…”