TRAF4的结构与生物学功能

Structure and Biological Function of TRAF4

TRAF(TNF receptor associated factor)家族蛋白是一类具有相同C末端保守结构域的细胞内接头蛋白,能够与包括TNF受体在内的多种受体蛋白相互作用传递信号并因此得名,目前已经发现了7种TRAF家族蛋白。TRAF4是TRAF家族蛋白中最古老的成员之一,最早在乳腺癌的转移淋巴结中发现,在多种实体肿瘤组织中存在高表达和亚细胞定位的异常。与其他TRAF家族蛋白主要参与免疫和炎症反应不同,TRAF4在免疫中的作用非常有限,目前其已知功能主要体现在胚胎发育、细胞极性、凋亡以及活性氧生成调节等方面。

TRAFs （TNF receptor associated factors）, a family of intracellular adaptor proteins with the same conserved C-terminal domain, can interact with a wide range of cell surface receptors including TNFR as signal transducers. Presently, 7 TRAFs have been identified in humans. TRAF4, one of the most primitive members of TRAF family, was originally identified from metastatic lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. Later studies showed that the overexpression and altered subcellular localization of TRAFd could be detected in many kinds of solid tumors. TRAF4 plays a limited role in immunity, which is different from other TRAF family members. At present, it is known that TRAF4 mainly functions in regulating embryonic development, cell polarity, apoptosis and generation of reactive oxygen.