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Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) domain of BATF proteins: a DNA-binding and dimerization domain Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor ATF-like (BATF or SFA2), BATF2 (or SARI) and BATF3 form heterodimers with Jun proteins. They function as inhibitors of AP-1-driven transcription. Unlike most bZIP transcription factors that contain additional domains, BATF and BATF3 contain only the the bZIP DNA-binding and dimerization domain. BATF2 contains an additional C-terminal domain of unknown function. BATF:Jun hetrodimers preferentially bind to TPA response elements (TREs) with the consensus sequence TGA(C/G)TCA, and can also bind to a TGACGTCA cyclic AMP response element (CRE). In addition to negative regulation, BATF proteins also show positive transcriptional activities in the development of classical dendritic cells and T helper cell subsets, and in antibody production. bZIP factors act in networks of homo and heterodimers in the regulation of a diverse set of cellular processes. The bZIP structural motif contains a basic region and a leucine zipper, composed of alpha helices with leucine residues 7 amino acids apart, which stabilize dimerization with a parallel leucine zipper domain. Dimerization of leucine zippers creates a pair of the adjacent basic regions that bind DNA and undergo conformational change. Dimerization occurs in a specific and predictable manner resulting in hundreds of dimers having unique effects on transcription.
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