ATF1 (Activating Transcription Factor 1) is a member of the CREB/ATF family of basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors. It regulates gene expression by binding to cAMP-responsive elements (CREs) in promoter regions, playing roles in cellular stress responses, proliferation, and apoptosis. ATF1 forms homodimers or heterodimers with other bZIP proteins like CREB, enabling diverse transcriptional regulatory functions. Dysregulation of ATF1 is implicated in cancers, including melanomas and salivary gland tumors, where chromosomal translocations (e.g., EWSR1-ATF1 fusion) drive oncogenesis.
ATF1 antibodies are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and interactions. They are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to detect ATF1 protein levels, phosphorylation states (e.g., at Ser63), or DNA-binding activity. Specific monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies target distinct epitopes, enabling precise experimental applications. In diagnostics, ATF1 antibodies help identify tumors with ATF1-related genetic alterations, aiding pathological classification.
Research using ATF1 antibodies has advanced understanding of its dual roles in tumor suppression and oncogenesis, depending on cellular context. These antibodies also elucidate ATF1's involvement in neuronal function, circadian rhythms, and response to hormonal signaling, highlighting its broad biological relevance.