BACKGROUND Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) were first discovered in protein complexes bound to the promoters of interferon-inducible genes. Seven STATs have now been cloned: STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B, and STAT6. These transcription factors participate in normal cellular events, such as differentiation, proliferation, cell survival, apoptosis, and angiogenesis following cytokine, growth factor, and hormone signaling.1 STATs are activated by tyrosine phosphorylation, which is normally a transient and tightly regulates process. The seven mammalian STATs bear a conserved tyrosine residue near the C-terminus that is phosphorylated by JAKs. This phosphotyrosine permits the dimerization of STATs through interaction with a conserved SH2 domain. Phosphorylated STATs enter the nucleus by a mechanism that is dependent on importin-5 (also called nucleoprotein interactor 1) and the Ran nuclear import pathway. Once in the nucleus, dimerized STATs bind specific regulatory sequences to activate or repress transcription of target genes. Thus the JAK/STAT cascade provides a direct mechanism to translate an extracellular signal into a transcriptional response.2 In addition, serine phosphorylation of STATs may be required for the maximal induction of Stat-mediated gene activation.3 STATs can be divided into two groups according to their specific functions. One is made up of STAT2, STAT4, and STAT6, which are activated by a small number of cytokines and play a distinct role in the development of T-cells and in IFN signaling. The other group includes STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5, activated in different tissues by means of a series of ligands and involved in IFN signaling, development of the mammary gland, response to GH, and embriogenesis. This latter group of STATS plays an important role in controlling cell-cycle progression and apoptosis and thus contributes to oncogenesis.
Stat1 protein exists as a pair of isoforms, Stat1α (91 kDa) and the splice variant Stat1beta (84 kDa). Although an increased expression of STAT1 has been observed in many human neoplasias, this molecule can be considered a potential tumor suppressor, since it plays an important role in growth arrest and in promoting apoptosis.4 On the other hand, STAT3 and 5 are considered as oncogenes, since they bring about the activation of cyclin D1, c-Myc, and bcl-xl expression, and are involved in promoting cell-cycle progression, cellular transformation, and in preventing apoptosis.5
REFERENCES
1. Artavanis-Tsakonas S et al.: Science 284: 770-776, 1999.
2. Oswald F et al.: Mol. Cell. Biol. 21: 7761–74, 2001.
3. Laky K & Fowlkes BJ: Curr. Opin. Immunol. 20: 197-202, 2008.
4. Chen, S. & Schreiber, S.:Cancer Res. 69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 65, 2009
5. Calò, V. et al: J. Cell. Physiol. 197:157-68, 2003
Products are for research use only. They are not intended for human, animal, or diagnostic applications.
Cat.No.: | CA1075 |
Antigen: | Human STAT1 C-terminal sequence. |
Isotype: | Rabbit Polyclonal |
Species & predicted species cross- reactivity ( ): | Human, Rat, Mouse |
Applications & Suggested starting dilutions: | WB 1:1000 IP 1:50 IHC (Paraffin) 1:100 ICC n/d FACS n/d |
Predicted Molecular Weight of protein: | 84/91 kDa |
Specificity/Sensitivity: | Detects endogenous levels of STAT1 protein in normal primary cell lysates. |
Storage: | Store at 4° C for frequent use; at -20° C for at least one year. |
*Optimal working dilutions must be determined by end user.