ETS TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS - NUCLEAR EFFECTORS OF THE RAS-MAP-KINASE SIGNALING PATHWAY

The Ets family of transcription factors includes nuclear phosphoprotei ns that ave involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and oncoge nic transformation, The family is defined by a conserved DNA-binding d omain (the ETS-DBD), which forms a highly conserved, winged, helix-tur n-helix structural motif. As targets of the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway , Ets proteins function as critical nuclear integrators of ubiquitous signaling cascades, To direct signals to specific target genes, Ets pr oteins interact with (other) transcription factors that promote the bi nding of Ets proteins to composite Ras-responsive elements.