# ATF1

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/atf1/  
OnCo record `atf1` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

ATF1 (Cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor ATF-1) is a protein that switches other genes on and off. The public catalogues list it as a fusion partner, and the evidence so far is association rather than a proven role. Tied to Sarcomas, Colorectal cancer and Melanoma.

## Summary

This protein binds the cAMP response element (CRE) (consensus: 5'-GTGACGT[AC][AG]-3'), a sequence present in many viral and cellular promoters. Binds to the Tax-responsive element (TRE) of HTLV-I. Mediates PKA-induced stimulation of CRE-reporter genes.

Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.71 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes literature 0.96, genetic association 0.52, somatic mutation 0.98).

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: activating transcription factor 1; Cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor ATF-1; TREB36
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: ATF1
- Class: transcription
- Biology: This protein binds the cAMP response element (CRE) (consensus: 5'-GTGACGT[AC][AG]-3'), a sequence present in many viral and cellular promoters. Binds to the Tax-responsive element (TRE) of HTLV-I. Mediates PKA-induced stimulation of CRE-reporter genes. Represses the expression of FTH1 and other antioxidant detoxification genes. Triggers cell proliferation and transformation. Location: Nucleus (UniProt). Locus 12q13.12 (HGNC).
- Where found: Sarcomas: Open Targets association 0.59 with sarcoma (MONDO_0005089); Colorectal cancer: Open Targets association 0.51 with colorectal cancer (MONDO_0005575); Melanoma: Open Targets association 0.54 with melanoma (MONDO_0005105)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: UniProt disease notes describe a translocation or gene fusion involving the gene. Evidence tier "association-only" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:783: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:783
- UniProt P18846: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P18846/entry
- NCBI Gene 466: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/466
- Ensembl ENSG00000123268: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000123268

## Connected records

- collections: [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)
- cancers: [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/), [Sarcomas (soft tissue, bone, GIST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/sarcoma/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/atf1.json