Phospho-Jun-(S243)

Target Background

c-Jun is a member of the Jun Family containing c-Jun, JunB and JunD, and is a component of the transcription factor AP-1 (activator protein-1). AP-1 is composed of dimers of Fos, Jun and ATF family members and binds to and activates transcription at TRE/AP-1 elements (reviewed in 1). Extracellular signals including growth factors, chemokines and stress activate AP-1-dependent transcription. The transcriptional activity of c-Jun is regulated by phosphorylation at Ser63 and Ser73 through SAPK/JNK (reviewed in 2). Knock-out studies in mice have shown that c-Jun is essential for embryogenesis (3), and subsequent studies have demonstrated roles for c-Jun in various tissues and developmental processes including axon regeneration (4), liver regeneration (5) and T cell development (6). AP-1 regulated genes exert diverse biological functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as transformation, invasion and metastasis, depending on cell type and context (7-9). Other target genes regulate survival as well as hypoxia and angiogenesis (8,10). c-Jun has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer, vascular remodeling, acute inflammation, as well as rheumatoid arthritis (11,12).