nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATC transcription complex, NFAT)

Function

• role in the inducible expression of cytokine genes in T-cells

Structure

• subunits include:
  • nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1)
  • nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 2 (NFATc2)
  • nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 3 (NFATc3)
  • nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 4 (NFATc4)
  • nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5
  • members of the activating protein-1 family, MAF, GATA4 & Cbp/p300 can also bind the complex

Compartment

• cytoplasm, nucleus
• calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation cytoplasmic components (NFATc) results in translocation to the cell nucleus
• rapid nuclear exit of subunits may be a mechanism by which cells distinguish between sustained & transient Ca+2 signals
• the subcellular localization of NFATc plays a key role in regulation of gene transcription

More general terms

• molecular complex
• nuclear protein

Additional terms

• calcineurin; serine/threonine protein phosphatase 3 (formerly PP2B)
• NFAT activation molecule 1; calcineurin/NFAT-activating ITAM-containing protein; NFAT-activating protein with ITAM motif 1 (NFAM1, CNAIP)