CREB3L1, also known as OASIS, is a cellular transcription factor synthesized as a membrane-bound precursor. It is a putative endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor in astrocytes with a mechanism of activation. OASIS mRNA expression was detected in pancreatic β-cell lines and rodent islets, and the expression level was up-regulated by ER stress-inducing compounds. CREB3L1 may have a role in pancreas development. CREB3L1 may also play an important role in limiting virus spread by inhibiting proliferation of virus-infected cells. In vitro, CREB3L1 binds to box-B element, cAMP response element (CRE) and CRE-like sequences, and activates transcription through box-B element but not through CRE. It may play a role in gliosis.