THE C EBP FAMILY OF TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS

The C/EBP proteins form a family of transcription factors with at leas t seven members. These proteins consist of three structural components which include a C-terminal leucine-zipper, a basic DNA-binding region and a N-terminal transactivating region. Dimerization through the leu cine-zipper leads to formation of homo- and heterodimers which then bi nd with their two basic regions to often non-symmetric DNA-sequences i n the promoter/enhancer regions of a variety of genes. Expression of C /EBP is prominent in adipocytes, hepatocytes and monocytes/macrophages , and here these proteins are involved in tissue-specific gene express ion. Target genes for C/EBP include those for acute phase response gen es in liver cells and for cytokine genes in monocytes/macrophages. The refore, intervention at the level of C/EBP transcription factors may p rove effective in controlling immune response.