Serum response factor, also known as SRF, is a
transcription factor protein.
Function
Serum response factor is a member of the
MADS (MCM1, Agamous, Deficiens, and SRF) box superfamily of transcription factors.
This protein binds to the serum
response element (SRE) in the
promoter region of target genes. This protein regulates the activity of many
immediate early genes, for example
c-fos, and thereby participates in
cell cycle
The cell cycle, or cell-division cycle, is the sequential series of events that take place in a cell (biology), cell that causes it to divide into two daughter cells. These events include the growth of the cell, duplication of its DNA (DNA re ...
regulation,
apoptosis
Apoptosis (from ) is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms and in some eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms such as yeast. Biochemistry, Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (Morphology (biol ...
, cell growth, and
cell differentiation
Cellular differentiation is the process in which a stem cell changes from one type to a differentiated one. Usually, the cell changes to a more specialized type. Differentiation happens multiple times during the development of a multicellular ...
. This gene is the downstream target of many pathways; for example, the
mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway (MAPK) that acts through the ternary complex factors (TCFs).
SRF is important during the development of the embryo, as it has been linked to the formation of
mesoderm
The mesoderm is the middle layer of the three germ layers that develops during gastrulation in the very early development of the embryo of most animals. The outer layer is the ectoderm, and the inner layer is the endoderm.Langman's Medical ...
.
In the fully developed mammal, SRF is crucial for the growth of
skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle (commonly referred to as muscle) is one of the three types of vertebrate muscle tissue, the others being cardiac muscle and smooth muscle. They are part of the somatic nervous system, voluntary muscular system and typically are a ...
.
Interaction of SRF with other proteins, such as
steroid hormone receptors, may contribute to regulation of muscle growth by
steroid
A steroid is an organic compound with four fused compound, fused rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific molecular configuration.
Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes t ...
s.
Interaction of SRF with other proteins such as
myocardin or
Elk-1 may enhance or suppress expression of genes important for growth of
vascular smooth muscle
Vascular smooth muscle is the type of smooth muscle that makes up most of the walls of blood vessels.
Structure
Vascular smooth muscle refers to the particular type of smooth muscle found within, and composing the majority of the wall of blood v ...
.
Clinical significance
Lack of skin SRF is associated with
psoriasis
Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small localized patches to complete b ...
and other skin diseases.
Interactions
Serum response factor has been shown to
interact with:
*
ASCC3,
*
ATF6
Activating transcription factor 6, also known as ATF6, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the ''ATF6'' gene and is involved in the unfolded protein response.
Function
ATF6 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-regulated transmembr ...
,
*
CEBPB,
*
CREB-binding protein,
*
ELK4,
Myogenin
Myogenin, is a transcriptional activator encoded by the ''MYOG'' gene.
Myogenin is a muscle-specific basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor involved in the coordination of skeletal muscle development or myogenesis and repair. Myogeni ...
,[ and
* Src,]
See also
* MKL1
* Nuclear actin functions
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
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External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Serum Response Factor
Transcription factors