SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling proteins) refers to a family of genes involved in inhibiting the

JAK-STAT signaling pathway The JAK-STAT signaling pathway is a chain of interactions between proteins in a cell, and is involved in processes such as immunity, cell division, cell death, and tumour formation. The pathway communicates information from chemical signals ou ...

Genes

* CISH * SOCS1 *

SOCS2 Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SOCS2'' gene. This gene encodes a member of the STAT-induced STAT inhibitor (SSI), also known as suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS), family. SSI family membe ...

SOCS3 Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3 or SOCS-3) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SOCS3'' gene. This gene encodes a member of the STAT-induced STAT inhibitor (SSI), also known as suppressor of cytokine signaling ( SOCS), family ...

* SOCS4 * SOCS5 * SOCS6 * SOCS7

Structure

All SOCS have certain structures in common. This includes a varying N-terminal domain involved in protein-protein interactions, a central SH2 domain, which can bind to molecules that have been phosphorylated by tyrosine kinases, and a SOCS box located at the C-terminal that enables recruitment of E3 ligases and ubiquitin signaling molecules.

Discovery

The first protein to be classified as a suppressor of cytokine signaling, CIS (cytokine-inducible SH2), was discovered in 1995, when it was found to have a unique ability to regulate cytokine signal transduction.

Function

SOCS are negative regulators of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. SOCS have also been implicated in the regulation of cytokines, growth factors, and tumor suppression.

Role in Disease

It has been suggested that SOCS can help prevent cytokine-mediated apoptosis in diabetes through negative regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by immune cells, such as IFNγ, TNFα and IL-15. Improper functioning of one specific SOCS, SOCS3 may lead to type 2 diabetes, as it has been found that SOCS3 plays an important role in proper leptin signaling.

References

External links

* Cell signaling {{biochemistry-stub