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Updated: May 25, 2026

CD Spectroscopy to Study DNA-Protein Interactions
Published on: February 10, 2022
Diverse biological functions of the SPARC family of proteins
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina and Ralph H. Johnson Veteran's Administration, Charleston, SC, United States. bradshad@musc.edu
Abstract:
The SPARC family of proteins represents a diverse group of proteins that modulate cell interaction with the extracellular milieu. The eight members of the SPARC protein family are modular in nature. Each shares a follistatin-like domain and an extracellular calcium binding E-F hand motif. In addition, each family member is secreted into the extracellular space. Some of the shared activities of this family include, regulation of extracellular matrix assembly and deposition, counter-adhesion, effects on extracellular protease activity, and modulation of growth factor/cytokine signaling pathways. Recently, several SPARC family members have been implicated in human disease pathogenesis. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of the functional roles of the SPARC family of proteins in development and disease.
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