Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
05:52
Reconstitution of Msp1 Extraction Activity with Fully Purified Components
Published on: August 10, 2021
The alarmin functions of high-mobility group proteins
De Yang1, Poonam Tewary, Gonzalo de la Rosa
1Basic Science Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|February 4, 2010
Summary
High-mobility group (HMG) proteins are nuclear proteins with extracellular immune functions. These alarmins activate innate and adaptive immunity by recruiting antigen-presenting cells (APCs) during infection or tissue damage.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- High-mobility group (HMG) proteins are nuclear proteins involved in chromosome structure and gene regulation.
- Recent research indicates extracellular HMG proteins possess significant biological activities.
- These proteins function as alarmins, crucial mediators in the immune response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of High-mobility group (HMG) proteins.
- To highlight the role of HMG proteins in immune responses.
- To elucidate the alarmin-like functions of extracellular HMG proteins.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on HMG proteins and their extracellular functions.
- Analysis of HMG protein involvement in innate and adaptive immunity.
- Examination of alarmin-mediated immune activation mechanisms.
Main Results:
- HMG proteins are released extracellularly and exhibit distinct biological activities.
- Extracellular HMG proteins act as alarmins, responding to infection and tissue damage signals.
- HMG proteins promote the recruitment and activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs).
Conclusions:
- HMG proteins play a critical role in both innate and adaptive immunity.
- Their function as alarmins is key to initiating immune responses.
- HMG proteins are vital for effective immune surveillance and response to danger signals.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.
01:32Export of Misfolded Proteins out of the ER
After folding, the ER assesses the quality of secretory and membrane proteins. The correctly folded proteins are cleared by the calnexin cycle for transport to their final destination, while misfolded proteins are held back in the ER lumen. The ER chaperones attempt to unfold and refold the misfolded proteins but sometimes fail to achieve the correct native conformation. Such terminally misfolded proteins are then exported to the cytosol by ER-associated degradation or ERAD pathway for...
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
01:32Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...
01:58Mechanical Protein Functions
Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force.
01:30Assembly of Signaling Complexes
Multiprotein signaling complexes are formed in a dynamic process involving protein-protein interactions at the cytoplasmic domain of transmembrane receptors or enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins associated with the receptor. These complexes ensure the activation and propagation of intracellular signals that regulate cell functions.
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...