AATF, a novel transcription factor that interacts with Dlk/ZIP kinase and interferes with apoptosis

Dlk, also known as ZIP kinase, is a serine/threonine kinase that is tightly associated with nuclear structures. Under certain conditions, which requir e cytoplasmic localization, Dlk can induce apoptosis, In search for interac tion partners that might serve as regulators or targets of this kinase we i dentified apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor (AATF), a nuclear pho sphoprotein of 523 amino acids, The 1.8 kb mRNA seems to be ubiquitously ex pressed, AATF contains an extremely acidic domain and a putative leucine zi pper characteristic of transcription factors. Indeed, a Gal4-BD-AATF fusion protein exhibited strong transactivation activity. Interestingly, AATF int erfered with Dlk-induced apoptosis, (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochem ical Societies.