STAT proteins

STAT proteins (Abbreviation for Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription ) are transcription factors that are found in all animals. They are involved in the immune system , cell growth and proliferation via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway . Seven STAT proteins are known in humans. Mutations in STAT genes are responsible for several hereditary diseases:

protein	Gene (HGNC)	UniProt	Length (AA)	process	pathology
STAT1	STAT1	P42224	750	Antiviral immune response; Type 1 interferon signal	Susceptibility to infections with viruses and mycobacteria
STAT2	STAT2	P52630	851	Antiviral immune response, type 1 interferon signal
STAT3	STAT3	P40763	760	Interleukin-6 signal; Expression of the acute phase proteins during the immune response	Hyper-IgE syndrome (with recurrent staphylococcal infections)
STAT4	STAT4	Q14765	748	Interleukin-12 signal	Susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
STAT5A	STAT5A	P42229	794	Prolactin signal
STAT5B	STAT5B	P51692	787	Prolactin signal	Laron syndrome type 2
STAT6	STAT6	P42226	847	Interleukin-4 signal

Function in the JAK-STAT signal path

The binding of extracellular cytokines activates intracellular Janus kinases , which can phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues in the STAT proteins. The STAT monomers can then dimerize through their SH2 domain . The dimer is then transported to the cell nucleus where it can initiate specific gene transcription .

S. Pellegrini, I. Dusanter-Fourt: The structure, regulation and function of the Janus kinases (JAKs) and the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). In: European Journal of Biochemistry Volume 248, Number 3, September 1997, pp. 615-633, PMID 9342212 . (Review).
T. Kisseleva, S. Bhattacharya et al. a .: Signaling through the JAK / STAT pathway, recent advances and future challenges. In: Genes. Volume 285, Number 1-2, February 2002, pp. 1-24, PMID 12039028 . (Review).