SignalSilence ® CREB siRNA I

CREB is a bZIP transcription factor that activates target genes through cAMP response elements. CREB is able to mediate signals from numerous physiological stimuli, resulting in regulation of a broad array of cellular responses. While CREB is expressed in numerous tissues, it plays a large regulatory role in the nervous system. CREB is believed to play a key role in promoting neuronal survival, precursor proliferation, neurite outgrowth, and neuronal differentiation in certain neuronal populations (1-3). Additionally, CREB signaling is involved in learning and memory in several organisms (4-6). CREB is able to selectively activate numerous downstream genes through interactions with different dimerization partners. CREB is activated by phosphorylation at Ser133 by various signaling pathways, including Erk, Ca2+, and stress signaling. Some of the kinases involved in phosphorylating CREB at Ser133 are p90RSK, MSK, CaMKIV, and MAPKAPK-2 (7-9). 1.Lonze, B.E. et al. (2002) Neuron 34, 371-85. 2.Lee, M.M. et al. (1999) J Neurosci Res 55, 702-12. 3.Redmond, L. et al. (2002) Neuron 34, 999-1010. 4.Dash, P.K. et al. (1990) Nature 345, 718-21. 5.Yin, J.C. et al. (1994) Cell 79, 49-58. 6.Guzowski, J.F. and McGaugh, J.L. (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94, 2693-8. 7.Xing, J. et al. (1998) Mol Cell Biol 18, 1946-55. 8.Ribar, T.J. et al. (2000) J Neurosci 20, RC107. 9.Tan, Y. et al. (1996) EMBO J 15, 4629-42.