AP-1 transcription factor

In the field of molecular biology, the activator protein 1 (AP-1) is a transcription factor that is a heterodimer composed of proteins belonging to the c-Fos, c-Jun, ATF and JDP families. It regulates gene expression in response to a variety of stimuli, including cytokines, growth factors, stress, and bacterial and viral infections. AP-1 in turn controls a number of cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis.