ATF6

This gene encodes a transcription factor that activates target genes for the unfolded protein response (UPR) during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Although it is a transcription factor, this protein is unusual in that it is synthesized as a transmembrane protein that is embedded in the ER. It functions as an ER stress sensor/transducer, and following ER stress-induced proteolysis, it functions as a nuclear transcription factor via a cis-acting ER stress response element (ERSE) that is present in the promoters of genes encoding ER chaperones. This protein has been identified as a survival factor for quiescent but not proliferative squamous carcinoma cells. There have been conflicting reports about the association of polymorphisms in this gene with diabetes in different populations, but another polymorphism has been associated with increased plasma cholesterol levels. This gene is also thought to be a potential therapeutic target for cystic fibrosis. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2011]

Description

Activating transcription factor 6

Tissue specificity

Low tissue specificity

Predicted location

Intracellular, Membrane

Protein family

Disease related genes
Human disease related genes
Mapped to neXtProt
Mapped to UniProt SWISS-PROT
Plasma proteins
Predicted intracellular proteins
Predicted membrane proteins
Protein evidence (Ezkurdia et al 2014)
Protein evidence (Kim et al 2014)
Transcription factors

Chromosome

1 (161766298 - 161977574)

Ensembl ID

ENSG00000118217  (ver. 103.38)

Orthologs

Mouse Atf6: ENSMUSG00000026663

UniProt

P18850

neXtProt

NX_P18850

Human splice variants
Mouse splice variants

Protein structure