The axon guidance molecule Robo is a transmembrane protein which is conserved during evolution. Robo and its ligand, Slit, have been implicated in regulating many developmental processes, such as axon guidance, neuronal migration, tumor metastasis, angiogenesis, lung morphogenesis, kidney morphogenesis, heart morphogenesis, ovary development and gonad development. Robo function mainly depends on the binding of its Ig1 domain to the LRR-2 domain of Slit ligand. Meanwhile, Robo function is also mediated by binding to some signaling molecules, including the heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and tyrosine kinase Abelson. Several transcription factors, including Hox, Midline and Nkx2.9, were shown to regulate robo expression. In addition, alternative splicing and transport regulation also affect Robo function. In this review, we summarized the studies on the molecular structure, functions and molecular mechanism of Robo, which would propose a novel strategy for the research of neural development, as well as prevention and treatment of nervous system diseases and cancers.
Axons ; physiology ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; physiology ; Receptors, Immunologic ; physiology

The solute carrier family 4 (SLC4) includes 10 members (SLC4A1-5, SLC4A7-11), which are expressed in multiple tissues in the human body. The SLC4 family members differ in their substrate dependence, charge transport stoichiometry and tissue expression. Their common function is responsible for the transmembrane exchange of multiple ions, which is involved in many important physiological processes, such as erythrocyte CO₂ transport and the regulation of cell volume and intracellular pH. In recent years, many studies have focused on the role of SLC4 family members in the occurrence of human diseases. When SLC4 family members have gene mutations, a series of functional disorders will occur in the body, leading to the occurrence of some diseases. This review summarizes the recent progress about the structures, functions and disease correlation of SLC4 members, in order to provide clues for the prevention and treatment of related human diseases.
Humans ; Mutation ; SLC4A Proteins/physiology*

Caveolae are specialized lipid rafts that form flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane. Many researches show that caveolae are involved in cell signaling and transport. Caveolin-1 is the major coat protein essential for the formation of caveolae. Recently, several reports indicated that the other caveolae-associated proteins, Cavins, are required for caveola formation and organization. It's worth noting that Cavin-1 could cooperate with Caveolin-1 to accommodate the structural integrity and function of caveolae. Here, we reviewed that the relationship between Cavins and Caveolins and explore the role of them in regulating caveolae.
Animals ; Caveolae ; physiology ; Caveolin 1 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Caveolins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology

Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; physiology ; Carrier Proteins ; physiology ; Cation Transport Proteins ; physiology ; Ceruloplasmin ; physiology ; Female ; Ferritins ; physiology ; Hemochromatosis Protein ; Hepcidins ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; physiology ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron-Regulatory Proteins ; physiology ; Membrane Proteins ; physiology ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Transferrin ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThe tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins are a family of more than 70 human members, however only a few of them have been well studied. It has been shown that TRIM proteins are involved in various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and antiviral defense. The functions of TRIM38 are largely unknown. In this study we explore the effect of TRIM38 on NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

METHODS293T cells were transfected with NF-kappaB-Luc and plasmids expressing TRIM38 and its mutants fused to Flag. 24 h after transfection, cells were harvested and luciferase activities were measured. Data are representative of three independent experiments with triplicate samples. The expression of proteins was analyzed by Western Blot.

RESULTSTRIM38 could activate NF-kappaB signaling pathway. The mutants of TRIM38 affected the function of TRIM38. Only the mutant of SPRY domain deletion had no obviously influence of the function of TRIM38.

CONCLUSIONOur study reveals that NF-kappaB is activated in response to TRIM38.

Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; HIV-1 ; physiology ; Models, Biological ; Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Retroviridae Infections ; virology

Nogo-B is a major family member of the reticulon protein family 4. It is widely expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues, and is mainly located in endoplasmic reticulum and cell membrane. Previous studies have revealed that Nogo-B plays a key role in vascular injury, tissue repair and inflammation process. It also may be critical for apoptosis of tumor cells and central diseases. Further investigation of the molecular characteristics and biological function of Nogo-B might be of great help to understand its role in diverse diseases.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Myelin Proteins ; physiology ; Nogo Proteins

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an important role during embryonic development and pattern formation. Disruption of Hh pathway results in various developmental disorders and increasing cancer incidence. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the pathway members, focusing on how mammalian Hh regulates the Gli family of transcription factors through its downstream members, the so-called "canonical signaling pathway". Hh signaling pathway is highly conserved among species, and primary cilia plays an important role as a "signaling center" during vertebrate signal transduction. Further, in the past few years, numerous studies have shown that Hh signal can also be transduced through Gli-independent ways collectively referred to as "non-canonical signaling pathways", which can be subdivided into two modules: (i) those not requiring Smo and (ii) those downstream of Smo that do not require Gli transcription factors. Thus, we review the rapid progress on canonical and non-canonical Hh pathways.
Animals ; Cilia ; physiology ; Hedgehog Proteins ; physiology ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; physiology

Sperm-egg plasma membrane interaction is one of the important steps of mammalian fertilization. Many sperm and egg surface proteins are reported to be involved in sperm-zona pellucida interaction. Sulfogalactosylglycerolipid(SGG) is the major sulfoglycolipid in the germ cells of mammalian and lower vertebrates, mainly in the sperm head. It is a differentiation marker in spermatogenesis restricted to the zygotene and early pachytene spermatocytes. Sulfolipidimmobilizing protein 1 (SLIP1) is the major sulfoglycolipid of mammalian germ cells and eggs, with the same localization as SGG in the sperm. SLIP1 binds specificity to SGG, both playing a vital role in sperm-egg interaction. This article is aimed at reviewing the localization of SGG and SLIP1 in the germ cell surface and their role and related mechanism in gamete formation.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; physiology ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Female ; Galactolipids ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; physiology

Phosphophoryn (PP) and dentin sialoprotein (DSP) are the most dominant non-collagenous proteins in dentin. PP is an extremely acidic protein that can function as a mineral nucleator for dentin mineralization. DSP was first identified in 1981, yet its functional significance is still controversial. Historically, these two proteins were considered to be independently synthesized and secreted by dental pulp cells into the developing dentin matrix. However, with the identification of the DSP coding sequence in 1994, followed 2 years later by the finding that the PP coding sequence was located immediately downstream from the DSP sequence, it became immediately clear that DSP and PP proteins were derived from a single DSP-PP (i.e., dentin sialophosphoprotein, DSPP) transcript. Since DSPP cDNA became available, tremendous progress has been made in studying DSP-PP mRNA distribution and DSP generation from the DSP-PP precursor protein at specific cleavage sites by protease tolloid-related-1 (TLR1) or bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1). The functions of DSP-PP and DSP were investigated via DSP-PP knockout (KO) and DSP knockin in DSP-PP KO mice. In addition, a number of in vitro studies aimed to elucidate DSPP and DSP function in dental pulp cells.
Animals ; Dentinogenesis ; physiology ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Phosphoproteins ; physiology ; Sialoglycoproteins ; physiology