Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription in Oncogenesis

Synonyms

Signal transducer and activator of transcription; STAT

Definition

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins comprise a family of latent transcription factors that reside in the cytoplasm and have been shown to control normal cytokine and growth factor–induced responses. In response to extracellular signals, such as cytokines or growth factors, STATs are activated through phosphorylation by tyrosine kinases. Subsequently, these activated dimers translocate (translocation) into the nucleus where they bind to specific DNA sequences and regulate the transcription of cellular genes. Thus, STATs perform dual roles in transmitting receptor-generated signals from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and regulating cellular genes necessary for ligand-induced biological responses.

Characteristics

All multicellular organisms possess complex networks of molecular messengers that coordinate vital organ functions. Among the most common mechanisms used by multicellular...