Secret Lives of Transcription Factors

This SpringerBrief explores unconventional functions of eight different transcription factors and concludes with a discussion oftheir biological significance and impact,including effects on processes within the cell nucleaus during development and in adult organisms.Chapter One detailsunconventional functions of thetranscription factors GAGA, HP1, Rb, STAT, ATF-2 and NF-kB. Surprisingly, all of these transcription factors can be found in association with heterochromatin as well as euchromatin, and in some cases unconventional functions have been demonstrated for these heterochromatin-associated factors. Chapter Two focuses onthe unconventional functions of STAT and HP1 and discusses their rolesin the promotion of longevity, and in protection from cancer and DNA damage. Chapter Three exploresthe biological significance of the findings presented in the first two chapters and considershow global changes in the epigenome brought about by factors such as STAT and HP1 might affect processes within the cell nucleus during development and in adult organisms.This succinct yet thorough SpringerBriefis essential forresearchers studying epigenetics, and to instructors of the subject. It should also appeal to people interested in the control of gene transcription and other processes in the cell nucleus, and to those interested in development.