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Fas Ligand
Fas ligand (FasL, also known as CD95L or Apo-1L) is a type-II transmembrane protein in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. It binds to the Fas receptor (CD95) to induce apoptosis, and also activates non-apoptotic pathways such as NF-κB and Mitogen-activated protein kinase, MAPK. FasL exists in membrane-bound and soluble forms, and is primarily expressed by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. It plays a critical role in immune regulation, immune privilege, cancer, autoimmunity, and transplantation. The expression and function of FasL are tightly regulated to maintain Homeostasis, immune homeostasis. Structure Fas ligand operates as a type-II transmembrane protein through its membership in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. It operates under its official names FasL and CD95L or Apo-1L. With 281 amino acids the protein forms three identifiable structural components by including an intracellular N-terminal domain then follows with one transmembrane ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tumor Necrosis Factor
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), formerly known as TNF-α, is a chemical messenger produced by the immune system that induces inflammation. TNF is produced primarily by activated macrophages, and induces inflammation by binding to its receptors on other cells. It is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, a family of transmembrane proteins that are cytokines, chemical messengers of the immune system. Excessive production of TNF plays a critical role in several inflammatory diseases, and TNF-blocking drugs are often employed to treat these diseases. TNF is produced primarily by macrophages but is also produced in several other cell types, such as T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and mast cells. It is produced rapidly in response to pathogens, cytokines, and environmental stressors. TNF is initially produced as a type II transmembrane protein (tmTNF), which is then cleaved by TNF alpha converting enzyme (TACE) into a soluble form (sTNF) and secreted from the cell ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Decoy Receptor 3
Decoy receptor 3 (Dcr3), also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6B (TNFRSF6B), TR6 and M68, is a soluble protein of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily which inhibits Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Discovery Dcr3 was identified in 1998 by the search of genes with homology to the TNFR gene superfamily in expressed sequence tag (EST) database. Structure The open reading frame of TNFRSF6B encodes 300 amino acids with a 29-residue signal sequence and four tandem cystein-rich repeats. Two transcript variants encoding the same isoform, but differing in the 5' UTR, have been observed for this gene. Unlike most of the other members of TNFR superfamily, TNFRSF6 is a soluble protein which contains no transmembrane domain. Function This gene belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. It acts as a decoy receptor that competes with death receptors for ligand binding. The encoded protein is postulated to play a regulatory role in sup ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grb2
Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2, also known as Grb2, is an adaptor protein involved in signal transduction/ cell communication. In humans, the GRB2 protein is encoded by the ''GRB2'' gene. The protein encoded by this gene binds receptors such as the epidermal growth factor receptor and contains one SH2 domain and two SH3 domains. Its two SH3 domains direct complex formation with proline-rich regions of other proteins, and its SH2 domain binds tyrosine phosphorylated sequences. This gene is similar to the ''sem-5'' gene of ''Caenorhabditis elegans'', which is involved in the signal transduction pathway. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. Function and expression Grb2 is widely expressed and is essential for multiple cellular functions. Inhibition of Grb2 function impairs developmental processes in various organisms and blocks transformation and proliferation of various cell types. It is thus n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fas Receptor
The Fas receptor, also known as Fas, FasR, apoptosis antigen 1 (APO-1 or APT), cluster of differentiation 95 (CD95) or tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6 (TNFRSF6), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''FAS'' gene. Fas was first identified using a monoclonal antibody generated by immunizing mice with the FS-7 cell line. Thus, the name Fas is derived from ''F''S-7-''a''ssociated ''s''urface antigen. The Fas receptor is a death receptor on the surface of cells that leads to programmed cell death (apoptosis) if it binds its ligand, Fas ligand (FasL). It is one of two apoptosis pathways, the other being the mitochondrial pathway. Gene FAS receptor gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 10 (10q24.1) in humans and on chromosome 19 in mice. The gene lies on the plus ( Watson strand) and is 25,255 bases in length organized into nine protein encoding exons. Similar sequences related by evolution ( orthologs) are found in most mammals. Protein ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
FNBP1
Formin-binding protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''FNBP1'' gene. Function The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the formin-binding-protein family. The protein contains an N-terminal Fer/Cdc42-interacting protein 4 (CIP4) homology (FCH) domain followed by a coiled-coil domain, a proline-rich motif, a second coiled-coil domain, a Rho family protein-binding domain (RBD), and a C-terminal SH3 domain. This protein binds sorting nexin 2 (SNX2), tankyrase (TNKS), and dynamin; an interaction between this protein and formin has not been demonstrated yet in human. Interactions FNBP1 has been shown to interact with: * AKAP9, * DNM1, * Fas ligand * SNX2 Sorting nexin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SNX2'' gene. Function This gene encodes a member of the sorting nexin family. Members of this family contain a PX domain, phox (PX) domain, which is a phosphoinositide binding dom ..., and * TNKS. References Further reading < ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ezrin
Ezrin also known as cytovillin or villin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''EZR'' gene. Structure The N-terminus of ezrin contains a FERM domain which is further subdivided into three subdomains. The C-terminus contains an ERM domain. Function The cytoplasmic peripheral protein encoded by this gene can be phosphorylated by protein- tyrosine kinase in microvilli and is a member of the ERM protein family. This protein serves as a linker between plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton The cytoskeleton is a complex, dynamic network of interlinking protein filaments present in the cytoplasm of all cells, including those of bacteria and archaea. In eukaryotes, it extends from the cell nucleus to the cell membrane and is compos .... It plays a key role in cell surface structure adhesion, migration, and organization. The N-terminal domain (also called FERM domain) binds sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor ( NHERF) protein (involving long-range ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Signal Transduction Pathways
Signal transduction is the process by which a chemical or physical signal is transmitted through a cell as a series of molecular events. Proteins responsible for detecting stimuli are generally termed receptors, although in some cases the term sensor is used. The changes elicited by ligand binding (or signal sensing) in a receptor give rise to a biochemical cascade, which is a chain of biochemical events known as a signaling pathway. When signaling pathways interact with one another they form networks, which allow cellular responses to be coordinated, often by combinatorial signaling events. At the molecular level, such responses include changes in the transcription or translation of genes, and post-translational and conformational changes in proteins, as well as changes in their location. These molecular events are the basic mechanisms controlling cell growth, proliferation, metabolism and many other processes. In multicellular organisms, signal transduction pathways regulat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caspase 8
Caspase-8 is a caspase protein, encoded by the ''CASP8'' gene. It most likely acts upon caspase-3. ''CASP8'' orthologs have been identified in numerous mammals for which complete genome data are available. These unique orthologs are also present in birds. Function The ''CASP8'' gene encodes a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease (caspase) family. Sequential activation of caspases plays a central role in the execution-phase of cell apoptosis. Caspases exist as inactive proenzymes composed of a prodomain, a large protease subunit, and a small protease subunit. Activation of caspases requires proteolytic processing at conserved internal aspartic residues to generate a heterodimeric enzyme consisting of the large and small subunits. This protein is involved in the programmed cell death induced by Fas and various apoptotic stimuli. The N-terminal FADD-like death effector domain of this protein suggests that it may interact with Fas-interacting protein FADD. This protein ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
MicroRNA
Micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA, miRNA, μRNA) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules containing 21–23 nucleotides. Found in plants, animals, and even some viruses, miRNAs are involved in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRNAs base-pair to complementary sequences in messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, then silence said mRNA molecules by one or more of the following processes: * Cleaving the mRNA strand into two pieces. * Destabilizing the mRNA by shortening its poly(A) tail. * Reducing translation of the mRNA into proteins. In cells of humans and other animals, miRNAs primarily act by destabilizing the mRNA. miRNAs resemble the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, except miRNAs derive from regions of RNA transcripts that fold back on themselves to form short stem-loops (hairpins), whereas siRNAs derive from longer regions of double-stranded RNA. The human genome may encode ov ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
RNA-binding Protein
RNA-binding proteins (often abbreviated as RBPs) are proteins that bind to the double or single stranded RNA in cell (biology), cells and participate in forming ribonucleoprotein complexes. RBPs contain various structural motifs, such as RNA recognition motif (RRM), dsRNA binding domain, zinc finger and others. They are cytoplasmic and cell nucleus, nuclear proteins. However, since most mature RNA is exported from the nucleus relatively quickly, most RBPs in the nucleus exist as complexes of protein and Precursor mRNA, pre-mRNA called heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particles (hnRNPs). RBPs have crucial roles in various cellular processes such as: cellular function, transport and localization. They especially play a major role in post-transcriptional control of RNAs, such as: RNA splicing, splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA stabilization, mRNA Subcellular localization, localization and Translation (biology), translation. Eukaryote, Eukaryotic cells express diverse RBPs with unique RN ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
NFAT
Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) is a family of transcription factors shown to be important in immune response. One or more members of the NFAT family is expressed in most cells of the immune system. NFAT is also involved in the development of cardiac, skeletal muscle, and nervous systems. NFAT was first discovered as an activator for the transcription of Interleukin 2, IL-2 in T cells (as a regulator of T cell immune response) but has since been found to play an important role in regulating many more body systems. NFAT transcription factors are involved in many normal body processes as well as in development of several diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and several types of cancer. NFAT is also being investigated as a drug target for several different disorders. Family members The NFAT transcription factor family consists of five members: NFATC1, NFATc1, NFATC2, NFATc2, NFATC3, NFATc3, NFATC4, NFATc4, and NFAT5. NFATc1 through NFATc4 are regulated by calciu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
