Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
08:48
Generating De Novo Antigen-specific Human T Cell Receptors by Retroviral Transduction of Centric Hemichain
Published on: October 25, 2016
7.8K
An uncommon tail about the common γ-chain
Stephen C Jameson1, Kristin R Renkema1
1Center for Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.
Immunity
|June 21, 2014
Summary
The common gamma-chain (γc) protein, usually part of cytokine receptors, can also be secreted. This secreted form inhibits cytokine responses, potentially driving autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The common gamma-chain (γc) is essential for the function of several cytokine receptors.
- Cytokines play critical roles in immune responses and homeostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a novel, non-canonical function of the common gamma-chain (γc).
- To explore the role of secreted γc in regulating immune responses and autoimmunity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized molecular biology techniques to study γc expression and secretion.
- Employed cell-based assays to assess cytokine signaling inhibition.
- Investigated the impact of secreted γc in preclinical models of autoimmunity.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that γc can function as a secreted protein.
- Showed that secreted γc inhibits specific cytokine signaling pathways.
- Found that elevated levels of secreted γc promote the development of autoimmune conditions.
Conclusions:
- The common gamma-chain (γc) possesses a dual role, acting both as a receptor component and a secreted immunomodulator.
- Secreted γc represents a novel mechanism for controlling cytokine responses.
- This finding offers new insights into the pathogenesis of autoimmunity and potential therapeutic targets.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:45Tail-anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
2.8K
Tail-anchored, or TA, proteins are estimated to make up to 3-5% of membrane proteins found in the eukaryotic cell. Such proteins have a single transmembrane domain located approximately 30 amino acid residues upstream from the C-terminal end. As a result, the signal recognition particle (SRP) cannot guide a TA protein to the ER membrane for cotranslational insertion. Hence, they are integrated into the ER membrane post-translationally using their C-terminal end as the anchor. TA proteins...
2.8K
01:26Bacterial Protein Maturation
742
Bacterial protein maturation is a tightly regulated process that ensures newly synthesized polypeptides achieve correct functional conformations. This maturation involves a series of modifications, folding events, and quality control steps, often assisted by specialized chaperone proteins.N-Terminal ModificationsThe maturation of bacterial polypeptides begins cotranslationally as the polypeptide exits the ribosome. The first amino acid, N-formylmethionine (fMet), is typically modified at the...
742
01:22Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
8.8K
Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high...
8.8K
01:33Coat Assembly and GTPases
3.5K
Vesicles incorporate different coat protein subunits in different cell locations, which changes the properties of the coat, such as the shape and geometry of the transport vesicles. Thus, vesicle coat proteins also play a significant role in cargo selection.
Coat assembly depends on the local availability of phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs and GTP-binding proteins. Adaptor proteins, which link the coat proteins to the membrane, bind to these PIPs and play a crucial role in controlling...
Coat assembly depends on the local availability of phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs and GTP-binding proteins. Adaptor proteins, which link the coat proteins to the membrane, bind to these PIPs and play a crucial role in controlling...
3.5K
01:35Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
14.2K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
14.2K
01:13Protein Organization
123.2K
Overview
123.2K