Peptide corresponding to amino acids 712 to 750 of human STAT1a (4). The sequences differ from the murine corresponding sequences by four amino acids. STATs (signal transducers and activators of transcription) are a family of cytoplasmic latent transcription factors that are activated to regulate gene expression in response to a large number of extracellular signaling polypeptides including cytokines, interferons, and growth factors. After phosphorylation by JAK tyrosine kinases, STATs enter the nucleus to regulate transcription of many different genes. Among the seven STATs (Stat1, Stat2, Stat3, Stat4, Stat5a, Stat5b, and Stat6), Stat1, Stat3, Stat5a, and Stat5b have a wide activation profile (1,2). STAT1 is activated by many different ligands including IFN family (IFN-a, IFN-b, IFN-g, and IL-10), gp130 family (IL-6, IL-11, LIF, CNTF, and G-CSF), and receptor tyrosine kinases (EGF, PDGF, and CSF-1) (3). STAT1 has two forms, the 91kD STAT1a and the 84kD STAT1b, which are encoded by the same gene with splicing variant (4).
