The STAT diagram was created by Rockland scientists to provide an overview of this important Signaling Pathway. The proteins are linked to the related Rockland antibody products.

To download a PDF version of the STAT Signaling Pathway, click here.

 STAT Pathway Description:

Cytokines and growth factors are the major activator of evolutionarily conserved Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. The JAK/STAT signaling pathway transduces signals of more than 50 cytokines and peptide hormones adding plasticity to the response of a cell or tissue. The JAK/STAT pathway influences proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and cell survival, depending on the signal, tissue, and cellular context. JAK/STAT signaling is critical for numerous developmental and homeostatic processes, including hematopoiesis, immune cell development, stem cell maintenance, organismal growth, and mammary gland development.

The binding of a ligand to its respective receptor induces autoactivation of the receptor-associated JAK through trans-phosphorylation of tyrosine residues. Active JAKs subsequently phosphorylate critical tyrosines on the cytoplasmic portion of the receptor. These sites serve as docking sites for the SH2-domains of STATs, which get activated through phosphorylation by JAKs upon binding to this site of the receptor. Depending on the cell type and ligand-receptor complex, each JAK activates one or more of the members of the STAT family. Activated STATs separate from the receptor and form stable homo- or heterodimers and translocate to the nucleus where they function as transcription factors by binding to conserved DNA recognition sites.