FB2026_02 , released June 18, 2026
Gene: Dmel\Atf-2
Open Close
General Information
Symbol
Dmel\Atf-2
Species
D. melanogaster
Name
Activating transcription factor-2
Annotation Symbol
CG44246
Feature Type
protein_coding_gene
FlyBase ID
FBgn0265193
Gene Model Status
Current
Stock Availability
20 publicly available
Gene Summary
Activating transcription factor-2 (Atf-2) encodes a trancription factor required for heterochromatin assembly. It is involved in stress response and fat metabolism regulation. [Date last reviewed: 2019-09-12] (FlyBase Gene Snapshot)
All Summaries
Also Known As

dATF-2, ATF2, dATF2

Key Links
Genomic Location
Cytogenetic map
60E4-60E4
Sequence location
Recombination map
2-107
RefSeq locus
NT_033778 REGION:24870108..24871509
Sequence
Get Decorated FASTA
Genomic Maps
Other Genome Views
The following external sites may use different assemblies or annotations than FlyBase.
NCBI
UCSC
Ensembl
PopFly
Function
Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations (22 terms)
Molecular Function (6 terms)
Terms Based on Experimental Evidence (3 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
enables DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specific
inferred from direct assay
(Okamura et al., 2007, Sano et al., 2005)
enables protein homodimerization activity
inferred from direct assay
(Sano et al., 2005)
enables sequence-specific DNA binding
inferred from direct assay
(Sano et al., 2005)
Terms Based on Predictions or Assertions (3 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
enables cAMP response element binding
inferred from biological aspect of ancestor with PANTHER:PTN001062067
(GO Reference Genome Project, 2011-)
enables DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific
inferred from biological aspect of ancestor with PANTHER:PTN004510459
(GO Reference Genome Project, 2011-)
enables DNA-binding transcription factor activity
inferred from electronic annotation with InterPro:IPR004827
(InterPro Project Members, 2004-)
Biological Process (12 terms)
Terms Based on Experimental Evidence (10 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
involved_in cellular response to heat
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011)
involved_in cellular response to osmotic stress
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011, Sano et al., 2005)
involved_in heterochromatin formation
inferred from mutant phenotype
(Seong et al., 2011)
involved_in mucosal immune response
inferred from mutant phenotype
(Ha et al., 2009)
involved_in negative regulation of gene expression, epigenetic
inferred from mutant phenotype
(Seong et al., 2011)
involved_in positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II
inferred from direct assay
(Okamura et al., 2007, Sano et al., 2005)
involved_in regulation of triglyceride biosynthetic process
inferred from mutant phenotype
(Okamura et al., 2007)
involved_in response to salt stress
inferred from mutant phenotype
(Sano et al., 2005)
involved_in sleep
inferred from mutant phenotype
(Shimizu et al., 2008)
involved_in stress-activated MAPK cascade
inferred from direct assay
(Sano et al., 2005)
Terms Based on Predictions or Assertions (2 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
involved_in regulation of DNA-templated transcription
inferred from electronic annotation with InterPro:IPR004827
(InterPro Project Members, 2004-)
involved_in regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II
inferred from biological aspect of ancestor with PANTHER:PTN004510459
(GO Reference Genome Project, 2011-)
Cellular Component (4 terms)
Terms Based on Experimental Evidence (4 terms)
CV Term
Evidence
References
located_in chromocenter
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011)
located_in heterochromatin
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011)
located_in nucleus
inferred from direct assay
(Okamura et al., 2007)
located_in pericentric heterochromatin
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011)
Terms Based on Predictions or Assertions (1 term)
CV Term
Evidence
References
is_active_in nucleus
inferred from biological aspect of ancestor with PANTHER:PTN004510459
(GO Reference Genome Project, 2011-)
Gene Group (FlyBase)
Protein Family (UniProt)
-
Protein Signatures (InterPro)
Summaries
Gene Snapshot
Activating transcription factor-2 (Atf-2) encodes a trancription factor required for heterochromatin assembly. It is involved in stress response and fat metabolism regulation. [Date last reviewed: 2019-09-12]
Gene Group (FlyBase)
BASIC LEUCINE ZIPPER TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS -
The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins that regulate transcription. They are characterized by a 60-80 amino acid bZIP domain: a basic DNA binding domain followed by a leucine zipper dimerization domain. (Adapted from FBrf0152056).
Summary (Interactive Fly)

transcription factor - basic leucine zipper protein - regulates fat metabolism and osmotic stress response in the intestine - involved in stress response via activation by p38

Gene Model and Products
Number of Transcripts
1
Number of Unique Polypeptides
1

Please see the JBrowse view of Dmel\Atf-2 for information on other features

To submit a correction to a gene model please use the Contact FlyBase form

Protein Domains (via Pfam)
Isoform displayed:
Pfam protein domains
InterPro name
classification
start
end
Protein Domains (via SMART)
Isoform displayed:
SMART protein domains
InterPro name
classification
start
end
Structure
Protein 3D structure   (Predicted by AlphaFold)   (AlphaFold entry Q2PE13)

If you don't see a structure in the viewer, refresh your browser.
Model Confidence:
  • Very high (pLDDT > 90)
  • Confident (90 > pLDDT > 70)
  • Low (70 > pLDDT > 50)
  • Very low (pLDDT < 50)

AlphaFold produces a per-residue confidence score (pLDDT) between 0 and 100. Some regions with low pLDDT may be unstructured in isolation.

Experimentally Determined Structures
Crossreferences
Comments on Gene Model

Gene model reviewed during 5.49

Low-frequency RNA-Seq exon junction(s) not annotated.

Gene model reviewed during 5.45

Gene model reviewed during 5.40

Transcript Data
Annotated Transcripts
Name
FlyBase ID
RefSeq ID
Length (nt)
Assoc. CDS (aa)
Atf-2-RA
FBtr0339096
NM_001038884
1349
381
Additional Transcript Data and Comments
Reported size (kB)
Comments
External Data
Crossreferences
Polypeptide Data
Annotated Polypeptides
Name
FlyBase ID
Predicted MW (kDa)
Length (aa)
Theoretical pI
UniProt
RefSeq ID
GenBank
Atf-2-PA
FBpp0308241
41.9
381
7.33
Q2PE13
NP_001033973
ABC66046
Polypeptides with Identical Sequences

There is only one protein coding transcript and one polypeptide associated with this gene

Additional Polypeptide Data and Comments
Reported size (kDa)
Comments
External Data
Crossreferences
InterPro - A database of protein families, domains and functional sites
Linkouts
Sequences Consistent with the Gene Model
Mapped Features

Click to get a list of regulatory features (enhancers, TFBS, etc.) and gene disruptions (point mutations, indels, etc.) within or overlapping Dmel\Atf-2 using the Feature Mapper tool.

External Data
Crossreferences
Eukaryotic Promoter Database - A collection of databases of experimentally validated promoters for selected model organisms.
Linkouts
Expression Data
Testis-specificity index

The testis specificity index was calculated from modENCODE tissue expression data by Vedelek et al., 2018 to indicate the degree of testis enrichment compared to other tissues. Scores range from -2.52 (underrepresented) to 5.2 (very high testis bias).

3.17

Transcript Expression
in situ
Stage
Tissue/Position (including subcellular localization)
Reference
embryonic stage 1 -- 3
organism

Comment: maternally deposited

(Fisher et al., 2012)
embryonic stage 4 -- 6
organism | ubiquitous
(Fisher et al., 2012)
embryonic stage 7 -- 8
organism | ubiquitous
(Fisher et al., 2012)
embryonic stage 9 -- 10
organism | ubiquitous
(Fisher et al., 2012)
embryonic stage 11 -- 12
organism | ubiquitous
(Fisher et al., 2012)
embryonic stage 13 -- 16
organism | ubiquitous
(Fisher et al., 2012)
Additional Descriptive Data
Marker for
 
Subcellular Localization
CV Term
Polypeptide Expression
Additional Descriptive Data
Marker for
 
Subcellular Localization
CV Term
Evidence
References
located_in chromocenter
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011)
located_in heterochromatin
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011)
located_in nucleus
inferred from direct assay
(Okamura et al., 2007)
located_in pericentric heterochromatin
inferred from direct assay
(Seong et al., 2011)
Expression Deduced from Reporters
High-Throughput Expression Data
Associated Tools

JBrowse - Visual display of RNA-Seq signals

View Dmel\Atf-2 in JBrowse
RNA-Seq by Region - Search RNA-Seq expression levels by exon or genomic region
Bulk Downloads
RNA-Seq RPKM values for all genes
Reference
See Gelbart and Emmert, 2013 for analysis details and data files for all genes.
Developmental Proteome: Life Cycle
Developmental Proteome: Embryogenesis
External Data and Images
Linkouts
BDGP expression data - Patterns of gene expression in Drosophila embryogenesis
DRscDB - A single-cell RNA-seq resource for data mining and data comparison across species
EMBL-EBI Single Cell Expression Atlas - Single cell expression across species
FlyAtlas2 - A Drosophila melanogaster expression atlas with RNA-Seq, miRNA-Seq and sex-specific data
Fly-FISH - A database of Drosophila embryo and larvae mRNA localization patterns
Images
FlyBase Wiki
Image Based Resources
Alleles, Insertions, Transgenic Constructs, and Aberrations
Classical and Insertion Alleles ( 4 )
For All Classical and Insertion Alleles Show
 
Other relevant insertions
Transgenic Constructs ( 14 )
For All Alleles Carried on Transgenic Constructs Show
Transgenic constructs containing/affecting coding region of Atf-2
Transgenic constructs containing regulatory region of Atf-2
Aberrations (Deficiencies and Duplications) ( 0 )
Inferred from experimentation ( 0 )
Inferred from location ( 7 )
Variants
Variant Molecular Consequences
Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
Phenotypes
Orthologs
Downloads
Download All DIOPT Orthologs
Human Orthologs (via DIOPT v9.1)
Species\Gene Symbol
Score
Best Score
Best Reverse Score
Source
Compara
Domainoid
eggNOG
Hieranoid
Homologene
Inparanoid
OMA
OrthoDB
OrthoFinder
OrthoInspector
orthoMCL
Panther
Phylome
SonicParanoid
Alignment
Complementation?
Transgene?
Homo sapiens (Human) (3)
Hsap\ATF2
7 of 14
Yes
Yes
Hsap\ATF7
6 of 14
No
Yes
1  
Hsap\CREB5
6 of 14
No
Yes
Model Organism Orthologs (via DIOPT v9.1)
Species\Gene Symbol
Score
Best Score
Best Reverse Score
Source
Compara
Domainoid
eggNOG
Hieranoid
Homologene
Inparanoid
OMA
OrthoDB
OrthoFinder
OrthoInspector
orthoMCL
Panther
Phylome
SonicParanoid
Alignment
Complementation?
Transgene?
Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) (3)
Rnor\Atf2
7 of 14
Yes
Yes
Rnor\Atf7
6 of 14
No
Yes
Rnor\Creb5
6 of 14
No
Yes
Mus musculus (laboratory mouse) (3)
Mmus\Atf2
6 of 14
Yes
Yes
Mmus\Atf7
6 of 14
Yes
Yes
Mmus\Creb5
4 of 14
No
Yes
Xenopus tropicalis (Western clawed frog) (4)
Xtro\atf7
5 of 13
Yes
Yes
Xtro\creb5
4 of 13
No
Yes
Xtro\atf2
2 of 13
No
Yes
Xtro\chn1
1 of 13
No
No
Danio rerio (Zebrafish) (5)
Drer\atf7b
6 of 14
Yes
Yes
Drer\atf2
5 of 14
No
Yes
Drer\atf7a
5 of 14
No
Yes
Drer\creb5a
5 of 14
No
Yes
Drer\creb5b
5 of 14
No
Yes
Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematode, roundworm) (1)
Cele\atf-7
1 of 14
Yes
Yes
Anopheles gambiae (African malaria mosquito) (1)
Agam\AgaP_AGAP008416
9 of 12
Yes
Yes
Arabidopsis thaliana (thale-cress) (0)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Brewer's yeast) (3)
Scer\SKO1
3 of 13
Yes
Yes
Scer\ACA1
2 of 13
No
Yes
Scer\CST6
1 of 13
No
Yes
Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Fission yeast) (4)
Spom\atf1
3 of 12
Yes
Yes
Spom\atf21
2 of 12
No
Yes
Spom\atf31
2 of 12
No
Yes
Spom\pcr1
1 of 12
No
Yes
Escherichia coli (enterobacterium) (0)
Other Organism Orthologs (via OrthoDB)
Data provided directly from OrthoDB:Atf-2. Refer to their site for version information.
Paralogs
Downloads
Download All DIOPT Paralogs
Paralogs (via DIOPT v9.1)
Human Disease Associations
FlyBase Human Disease Model Reports
    Disease Ontology (DO) Annotations
    Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 0 )
    Allele
    Disease
    Evidence
    References
    Potential Models Based on Orthology ( 0 )
    Human Ortholog
    Disease
    Evidence
    References
    Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 0 )
    Allele
    Disease
    Interaction
    References
    Disease Associations of Human Orthologs (via DIOPT v9.1 and OMIM)
    Note that ortholog calls supported by only 1 or 2 algorithms (DIOPT score < 3) are not shown.
    Homo sapiens (Human)
    Gene name
    Score
    OMIM
    OMIM Phenotype
    DO term
    Complementation?
    Transgene?
    ATF2; activating transcription factor 2
    7 of 14
    123811
        ATF7; activating transcription factor 7
        6 of 14
        606371
             
            CREB5; cAMP responsive element binding protein 5
            6 of 14
            618262
                Functional Complementation Data
                Functional complementation data is computed by FlyBase using a combination of the orthology data obtained from DIOPT and OrthoDB and the allele-level genetic interaction data curated from the literature.
                Interactions
                Summary of Physical Interactions
                Summary of Genetic Interactions
                Interaction Browsers
                View in FlyBase Interactions Browser   View in MIST tool (external link)
                Please look at the allele data for full details of the genetic interactions
                Starting gene(s)
                Interaction type
                Interacting gene(s)
                Reference
                Atf-2
                enhanceable
                aub
                (Seong et al., 2011)
                Atf-2
                suppressible
                Duox
                (Ha et al., 2009)
                Atf-2
                suppressible
                Mekk1
                (Sano et al., 2005)
                Atf-2
                enhanceable
                p38b
                (Sano et al., 2005)
                Atf-2
                enhanceable
                spn-E
                (Seong et al., 2011)
                Starting gene(s)
                Interaction type
                Interacting gene(s)
                Reference
                Mekk1
                suppressible
                Atf-2
                (Sano et al., 2005)
                External Data
                Linkouts
                DroID - A comprehensive database of gene and protein interactions.
                MIST (protein-protein) - An integrated Molecular Interaction Database
                Pathways
                Signaling Pathways (FlyBase)
                Metabolic Pathways
                FlyBase
                External Links
                External Data
                Linkouts
                KEGG Pathways - A collection of manually drawn pathway maps representing knowledge of molecular interaction, reaction and relation networks.
                Reactome - An open-source, open access, manually curated and peer-reviewed pathway database.
                Class of Gene
                Genomic Location and Detailed Mapping Data
                Chromosome (arm)
                2R
                Recombination map
                2-107
                Cytogenetic map
                60E4-60E4
                Sequence location
                FlyBase Computed Cytological Location
                Cytogenetic map
                Evidence for location
                60E4-60E4
                Limits computationally determined from genome sequence between P{EP}Reg-5EP1065 and P{EP}CG9047EP560&P{EP}CG3760EP936;
                Experimentally Determined Cytological Location
                Cytogenetic map
                Notes
                References
                Experimentally Determined Recombination Data
                Location

                2-107

                (FlyBase, 2016)

                2-111.7

                (Comeron et al., 2012)
                Left of (cM)
                Right of (cM)
                Notes
                Stocks and Reagents
                Stocks (20)
                Genomic Clones (15)
                 

                Please Note FlyBase no longer curates genomic clone accessions so this list may not be complete

                cDNA Clones (5)
                 

                Please Note This section lists cDNAs and ESTs that fall within the genomic extent of the gene model, which may include cDNAs and ESTs of genes within introns, or of overlapping genes. Please see JBrowse for alignment of the cDNAs and ESTs to the gene model.

                cDNA clones, fully sequenced
                BDGP DGC clones
                  Other clones
                    Drosophila Genomics Resource Center cDNA clones

                    For each fully sequenced cDNA the DGRC maintains various forms of the cDNA (e.g tagged or untagged) in several different host vectors for subsequent cloning and expression in Drosophila and Drosophila cell lines.

                    cDNA Clones, End Sequenced (ESTs)
                    BDGP DGC clones
                      Other clones
                        RNAi and Array Information
                        Linkouts
                        Antibody Information
                        Laboratory Generated Antibodies
                         

                        polyclonal

                        (Shimizu et al., 2008)
                        Commercially Available Antibodies
                         
                        Cell Line Information
                        Publicly Available Cell Lines
                         
                          Other Stable Cell Lines
                           
                            Other Comments

                            dsRNA made from templates generated with primers directed against this gene results in embryonic lethality in 17% of cases. These embryos do not show a clear dorsal-open phenotype.

                            (Sano et al., 2005)
                            Relationship to Other Genes
                            Source for database merge of

                            Source for merge of: CG12850 CG3749

                            (FlyBase Genome Annotators, 2002-2003)
                            Additional comments

                            Annotation CG30420 split into CG44246 (which corresponds to Atf-2) and CG44247 in release 5.49 of the genome annotation.

                            (FlyBase Genome Annotators, 2012)

                            Split based in part on on data from FBrf0188065.

                            (FlyBase Genome Annotators, 2012)

                            Annotations CG12850 and CG3749 merged as CG30420 in release 3 of the genome annotation.

                            (FlyBase Genome Annotators, 2002-2003)
                            Nomenclature History
                            Source for database identify of

                            Source for identity of: Atf-2 CG30420

                            (Sano, 2005.3.8)
                            Nomenclature comments
                            Etymology
                            Synonyms and Secondary IDs (14)
                            Reported As
                            Symbol Synonym
                            ATF-2
                            (Hime et al., 2021, Potdar and Sheeba, 2013, Silver-Morse and Li, 2013, Shimizu et al., 2008)
                            ATF2
                            (Li et al., 2025, Khan et al., 2023, El Chamy et al., 2015, Wongtrakul et al., 2014, Kuraishi et al., 2013, Lee and Brey, 2013, Igboin et al., 2012, Wongtrakul et al., 2012, Ryu et al., 2010, Ha et al., 2009, Ha et al., 2009)
                            Atf-2
                            (He et al., 2025, Podkolodnaya et al., 2025, Wolfe et al., 2021, Meyer-Nava et al., 2020, Bischof and FlyORF project members, 2019-, Sanuki et al., 2019, Early et al., 2017, Appocher et al., 2014, Das et al., 2013, FlyBase Genome Annotators, 2012, Japanese National Institute of Genetics, 2012.5.21, Mizrak et al., 2012, Spokony and White, 2012.5.22, Kühnlein, 2010)
                            Atf2
                            (Worley and Hariharan, 2022, Makhnovskii et al., 2020, Santabárbara-Ruiz et al., 2015, Appocher et al., 2014, Buchon et al., 2013)
                            CG12850
                            (Fassler et al., 2002, Anholt and Mackay, 2001)
                            CG30420
                            (Reinke et al., 2013, Perkins et al., 2009.3.31)
                            CG44246
                            (Meadows, 2018.10.31, FlyBase Genome Annotators, 2012, Perkins et al., 2009)
                            DM5
                            (Reinke et al., 2013)
                            FBgn0050420
                            (Shokri et al., 2019)
                            atf-2
                            (Chakrabarti et al., 2014)
                            atf2
                            (Nishida et al., 2021)
                            dATF-2
                            (Parvez and Rahul, 2026, Zhao et al., 2026, Ding et al., 2022, Seong et al., 2020, Terriente-Félix et al., 2017, Silver-Morse and Li, 2013, Seong et al., 2011, Shimizu et al., 2008, Okamura et al., 2007, Sano, 2005.3.8, Sano et al., 2005)
                            dATF2
                            (Santabárbara-Ruiz et al., 2015, Kohyama-Koganeya et al., 2011)
                            Name Synonyms
                            Activating transcription factor-2
                            (Shafer, 2025, Kühnlein, 2010)
                            Secondary FlyBase IDs
                            • FBgn0050420
                            • FBgn0035072
                            • FBtr0072381
                            • FBpp0072288
                            • FBtr0072382
                            • FBpp0072289
                            • FBgn0265181
                            Datasets (0)
                            Study focus (0)
                            Experimental Role
                            Project
                            Project Type
                            Title
                            Study result (0)
                            Result
                            Result Type
                            Title
                            External Crossreferences and Linkouts ( 32 )
                            Sequence Crossreferences
                            NCBI Gene - Gene integrates information from a wide range of species. A record may include nomenclature, Reference Sequences (RefSeqs), maps, pathways, variations, phenotypes, and links to genome-, phenotype-, and locus-specific resources worldwide.
                            GenBank Nucleotide - A collection of sequences from several sources, including GenBank, RefSeq, TPA, and PDB.
                            GenBank Protein - A collection of sequences from several sources, including translations from annotated coding regions in GenBank, RefSeq and TPA, as well as records from SwissProt, PIR, PRF, and PDB.
                            RefSeq - A comprehensive, integrated, non-redundant, well-annotated set of reference sequences including genomic, transcript, and protein.
                            UniProt/GCRP - The gene-centric reference proteome (GCRP) provides a 1:1 mapping between genes and UniProt accessions in which a single 'canonical' isoform represents the product(s) of each protein-coding gene.
                            UniProt/TrEMBL - Automatically annotated and unreviewed records of protein sequence and functional information
                            Other crossreferences
                            AlphaFold DB - AlphaFold provides open access to protein structure predictions for the human proteome and other key proteins of interest, to accelerate scientific research.
                            BDGP expression data - Patterns of gene expression in Drosophila embryogenesis
                            DRscDB - A single-cell RNA-seq resource for data mining and data comparison across species
                            EMBL-EBI Single Cell Expression Atlas - Single cell expression across species
                            FlyAtlas2 - A Drosophila melanogaster expression atlas with RNA-Seq, miRNA-Seq and sex-specific data
                            InterPro - A database of protein families, domains and functional sites
                            KEGG Genes - Molecular building blocks of life in the genomic space.
                            MARRVEL_MODEL - MARRVEL (model organism gene)
                            Linkouts
                            Drosophila Genomics Resource Center - Drosophila Genomics Resource Center (DGRC) cDNA clones
                            DroID - A comprehensive database of gene and protein interactions.
                            Eukaryotic Promoter Database - A collection of databases of experimentally validated promoters for selected model organisms.
                            FlyCyc Genes - Genes from a BioCyc PGDB for Dmel
                            Fly-FISH - A database of Drosophila embryo and larvae mRNA localization patterns
                            FlyMet - A comprehensive tissue-specific metabolomics resource for Drosophila.
                            iBeetle-Base - RNAi phenotypes in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum)
                            Interactive Fly - A cyberspace guide to Drosophila development and metazoan evolution
                            KEGG Pathways - A collection of manually drawn pathway maps representing knowledge of molecular interaction, reaction and relation networks.
                            MIST (protein-protein) - An integrated Molecular Interaction Database
                            Reactome - An open-source, open access, manually curated and peer-reviewed pathway database.
                            References (82)