TEAD4
Description
The TEAD4 (TEA domain transcription factor 4) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 12.
TEAD4, encoded by the TEAD4 gene, belongs to the transcriptional enhancer factor (TEF) family of transcription factors, characterized by the TEA/ATTS DNA-binding domain. TEAD4 is preferentially expressed in skeletal muscle and binds to the M-CAT regulatory element in muscle-specific gene promoters, directing their gene expression. Multiple isoforms are produced through alternative splicing, some translated using a non-AUG (UUG) initiation codon. Knockout studies in mice have demonstrated the essential role of TEAD4 in blastocyst formation during preimplantation embryo development, although its role in trophectoderm lineage specification remains under investigation. TEAD4 interacts with transcriptional coregulators such as WWTR1 (TAZ), a member of the TEF family.
TEAD4 plays a crucial role in the Hippo signaling pathway, a pathway vital for regulating organ size and suppressing tumor growth. This pathway operates through a kinase cascade, involving MST1/MST2, SAV1, LATS1/2, MOB1, YAP1, and WWTR1/TAZ. TEAD4 functions by mediating the gene expression of YAP1 and WWTR1/TAZ, impacting processes like cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). It specifically binds to the Sph and GT-IIC 'enhansons' (5'-GTGGAATGT-3') and activates transcription. Additionally, it binds to the M-CAT motif.
TEAD4 is also known as EFTR-2, RTEF1, TCF13L1, TEF-3, TEF3, TEFR-1, hRTEF-1B.
