SLAM family member 6 is a

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...

that in humans is encoded by the ''SLAMF6''

gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...

. The protein encoded by this gene is a

type I transmembrane protein A single-pass membrane protein also known as single-spanning protein or bitopic protein is a transmembrane protein that spans the lipid bilayer only once. These proteins may constitute up to 50% of all transmembrane proteins, depending on the or ...

, belonging to the

CD2 CD2 (cluster of differentiation 2) is a cell adhesion molecule found on the surface of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. It has also been called T-cell surface antigen T11/Leu-5, LFA-2, LFA-3 receptor, erythrocyte receptor and rosette re ...

subfamily of the

immunoglobulin superfamily The immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) is a large protein superfamily of cell surface and soluble proteins that are involved in the recognition, binding, or adhesion processes of cells. Molecules are categorized as members of this superfamily ...

. This encoded protein is expressed on

natural killer Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the laws, elements and phenomena of the physical world, including life. Although humans are par ...

(NK), T, and

B lymphocytes B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or inserted into the plasm ...

. It undergoes

tyrosine phosphorylation Tyrosine phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate () group to the amino acid tyrosine on a protein. It is one of the main types of protein phosphorylation. This transfer is made possible through enzymes called tyrosine kinases. Tyrosine phos ...

and associates with the Src homology 2 domain-containing protein (

SH2D1A SH2 domain–containing protein 1A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SH2D1A'' gene. It is often called SLAM-associated protein (symbol SAP), where "SLAM" refers to signaling lymphocytic activation molecules. It is a SH2 domain–con ...

) as well as with SH2 domain-containing phosphatases (SHPs). It may function as a coreceptor in the process of NK cell activation. It can also mediate inhibitory signals in NK cells from X-linked lymphoproliferative patients.

References

Further reading