Work

Genomic and computational approaches to dissect the mechanisms of STAT3’s universal and cell type-specific functions

Year: 2013

Type: review

Abstract: STAT3 is the quintessential pleiotropic transcription factor with many biological roles throughout development as well as in multiple adult tissues. Its functional heterogeneity is encoded in the range of genome-wide binding patterns that specify different regulatory networks in distinct cell types. However, STAT3 does not display remarkable DNA binding preferences that may help correlate specific motifs with individual biological functions or cell types. Therefore, achieving a detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that endow STAT3 (or any other pleiotropic transcription factor) with such a rainbow of functions is not only a central problem in biology but also a fiendishly difficult one. Here we describe key genomic and computational approaches that have shed light into this question, and present the two current models of STAT3 binding (universal and cell type-specific). We also discuss the role that the local epigenetic environment plays in the selection of STAT3 binding sites.

Source: JAK-STAT

DOI: 10.4161/jkst.25097

Authors: Andrew Paul Hutchins, Diego Diez, Diego Miranda-Saavedra

Institutions: Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka, The University of Osaka

Language: English

Topic: Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

OpenAlex ID: W2079761398

FWCI: 0.286

Cites: 108

Cited by: 33

Related to: 10