Post-translational control of Sp-family transcription factors

Sp-family transcription factors are widely expressed in human tissues and involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and response to cellular microenvironment. These responses appear to be mediated by alterations in transcription factor affinity for DNA rather than altered protein level. How might such changes be effected? This review will identify the range of known post-translational modifications (PTMs) of Sp-factors and the sometimes conflicting literature about the roles of PTMs in regulating activity. We will speculate on the interaction between cell environment, chromatin microenvironment and the role of PTM in governing functionality of the proteins and the complexes to which they belong.