Functions of MAPR (membrane-associated progesterone receptor) family members as heme/steroid-binding proteins

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1), PGRMC2, neudesin, and neuferricin all contain a cytochrome b5-like heme/steroid-binding domain and belong to the membrane-associated progesterone receptor (MAPR) family. Their amino acid sequences are well conserved among vertebrates, from humans to zebrafish. MAPR family genes are abundantly expressed in the central nervous system and exhibit neurotrophic effects in neural cells. During lipid metabolism, PGRMC1 regulates cholesterol synthesis, and neudesin plays a role in adipogenesis. Their bioactivities are dependent on the binding of heme to their cytochrome b5-like heme/steroid-binding domains. Conversely, it has been reported that the binding of steroids to MAPR family proteins induces biological responses that are unrelated to the nuclear steroid receptors. The interaction between PGRMC1 and progesterone promotes cell survival and damage resistance by progesterone. Moreover, MAPR family proteins exhibit a unique expression pattern in breast cancer, indicating the possibility of using MAPR family members as drug target in breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the identification, structure, and bioactivity of members of the MAPR family, and present an essential overview of the current understanding of their physiological roles.