Structure and functions of transcriptional coactivators p300/CBP and their roles in regulation of interleukin gene expression

p300/CBP are versatile transcriptional coacti- vators that participate in many physiological processes, in- cluding cell cycle control, differentiation and apoptosis. p300/CBP possess histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity and they are involved in transcriptional regulation by acety- lating histone and nonhistone proteins. Moreover, they act as protein bridges connecting specific transcription factors to the basal transcription machinery and provide a scaffold to integrate multiple transcription cofactors. Several studies suggest that p300/CBP may serve as tumor suppressors since mutations or translocations in p300/Cbp genes have been observed in a number of cancers. Furthermore, in many neurodegenerative diseases, inhibition of p300/CBP function may be one of the underlying causes of cytotoxicity. Several studies have demonstrated that p300/CBP are implicated in the regulation of many interleukin genes. This review focuses on the structures and functions of p300/CBP and their roles in the regulation of interleukin genes based on the work per- formed in our laboratory.