What turns CREB on?

Cell Signal. 2004 Nov;16(11):1211-27. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2004.05.001.

Abstract

The transactivation domain of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) consists of two major domains. The glutamine-rich Q2 domain, which interacts with the general transcription factor TAFII130/135, is sufficient for the recruitment of a functional RNA polymerase II complex and allows basal transcriptional activity. The kinase-inducible domain, however, mediates signal-induced activation of CREB-mediated transcription. It is generally believed that recruitment of the coactivators CREB-binding protein (CBP) and p300 after signal-induced phosphorylation of this domain at serine-133 strongly enhances CREB-dependent transcription. Transcriptional activity of CREB can also be potentiated by phosphoserine-133-independent mechanisms, and not all stimuli that provoke phosphorylation of serine-133 stimulate CREB-dependent transcription. This review presents an overview of the diversity of stimuli that induce CREB phosphorylation at Ser-133, focuses on phosphoserine-133-dependent and -independent mechanisms that affect CREB-mediated transcription, and discusses different models that may explain the discrepancy between CREB Ser-133 phosphorylation and activation of CREB-mediated transcription.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence / physiology
  • Animals
  • CREB-Binding Protein
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation / physiology*

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Serine
  • CREB-Binding Protein
  • CREBBP protein, human