TNF receptor associated factors (TRAFs) are a family of
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respon ...
s primarily involved in the regulation of
inflammation
Inflammation (from la, wikt:en:inflammatio#Latin, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or Irritation, irritants, and is a protective response involving im ...
,
antiviral
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used for treating viral infections. Most antivirals target specific viruses, while a broad-spectrum antiviral is effective against a wide range of viruses. Unlike most antibiotics, antiviral drugs do no ...
responses and
apoptosis.
Currently, seven TRAF proteins have been characterized in
mammals
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fu ...
:
TRAF1
TNF receptor-associated factor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TRAF1'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the TNF receptor (TNFR) associated factor (TRAF) protein family. TRAF proteins associate wit ...
,
TRAF2
TNF receptor-associated factor 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TRAF2'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF) protein family. TRAF proteins associate with, an ...
,
TRAF3
TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF3) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TRAF3 gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the TNF receptor associated factor ( TRAF) protein family. TRAF proteins associate with ...
,
TRAF4,
TRAF5
TNF receptor-associated factor 5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TRAF5'' gene.
Function
The scaffold protein encoded by this gene is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) protein family and con ...
,
TRAF6 and
TRAF7.
Except for TRAF7, these proteins share a relatively conserved
secondary structure
Protein secondary structure is the three dimensional form of ''local segments'' of proteins. The two most common secondary structural elements are alpha helices and beta sheets, though beta turns and omega loops occur as well. Secondary struct ...
, including a namesake
C-terminal
The C-terminus (also known as the carboxyl-terminus, carboxy-terminus, C-terminal tail, C-terminal end, or COOH-terminus) is the end of an amino acid chain (protein or polypeptide), terminated by a free carboxyl group (-COOH). When the protein is ...
TRAF domain that mediates interactions with other signaling components such as the transmembrane
TNF receptors and
CD40
Cluster of differentiation 40, CD40 is a costimulatory protein found on antigen-presenting cells and is required for their activation. The binding of CD154 (CD40L) on TH cells to CD40 activates antigen presenting cells and induces a variety of do ...
.
See also
*
Tumor necrosis factors
The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily is a protein superfamily of type II transmembrane proteins containing TNF homology domain and forming trimers. Members of this superfamily can be released from the cell membrane by extracellular pr ...
References
External links
*
TNF receptor family
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