Recombinant Human ELK1 protein

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Activity summary

ELK1 also known as ELK-1 or ETS-domain protein ELK1 is a transcription factor involved in regulating gene expression. It is a member of the ETS family of transcription factors and has a molecular mass of approximately 54 kDa. ELK1 is mainly expressed in the nucleus of cells and plays a significant role in various tissues by interacting with other proteins. It has sequence-specific DNA-binding ability which allows it to influence the transcription of target genes.

Biological function summary

ELK1 functions in the regulation of gene expression related to cellular proliferation and differentiation. It often forms a ternary complex with serum response factor (SRF) on serum response elements (SREs) to modulate the transcriptional responses of genes important for cell growth. The activation of ELK1 is phosphorylation-dependent primarily by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) which further facilitates its role as a transcription regulator. This phosphorylation increases the transcriptional activity enabling ELK1 to actively participate in cellular responses to external signals.

Pathways

ELK1 participates prominently in the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and the JNK signaling pathway. Through these pathways ELK1 gets activated influencing the transcription of immediate early genes responsible for cell cycle progression and apoptosis. ELK1 interacts with other proteins in these pathways such as MEK and ERK leading to a coordinated response to growth signals. These interactions underline its importance in signal transduction processes and cellular response mechanisms.

Associated diseases and disorders

ELK1 has associations with certain cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. In particular its dysregulation has been noted in the context of breast cancer where ELK1 is implicated in abnormal cell proliferation. Similarly in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's ELK1's altered activity levels can affect neuron function and survival. Other proteins such as amyloid precursor protein in Alzheimer's or estrogen receptor in breast cancer connect with ELK1 influencing disease progression through complex signaling networks.