Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025

In Vivo Optical Imaging of Brain Tumors and Arthritis Using Fluorescent SapC-DOPS Nanovesicles
Published on: May 2, 2014
Prosaposin: A Multifaceted Protein Orchestrating Biological Processes and Diseases
Xin Li1,2,3,4, Liang Guo1,2,3,4
1Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
Abstract:
Prosaposin (PSAP), a multifunctional protein, plays a central role in various biological processes and diseases. It is the precursor of lysosomal activating protein, which is important for lipid metabolism and glucose metabolism. PSAP is implicated in cell signaling, neuroprotection, immunomodulation, and tumorigenesis. In neurological disorders, PSAP acts as a neurotrophic factor influencing nerve cell survival and synapse growth, and its dysfunction is associated with a variety of diseases. It modulates immune responses and macrophage functions, affecting inflammation and immune cell activities. The role of PSAP in cancers is complex, because it promotes or inhibits tumor growth depending on the context and it serves as a potential biomarker for various malignancies. This review examines current research on the functional and pathological roles of PSAP, emphasizing the importance of PSAP in Gaucher disease, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. In order to develop targeted therapies for various diseases, it is essential to understand the mechanisms of action of PSAP in different biological processes.
Related Concept Videos
Caspases
Role of Septins
Cellular Functions of Septins
Recent studies have revealed the multifaceted roles of septins in various cellular processes such as cytokinesis, ciliogenesis, and neurogenesis. Septins act as scaffolds and...
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
Protein Networks
These interactions can be represented through maps depicting protein-protein interaction networks, represented as nodes and edges. Nodes are circles that are representative of a protein,...
Protein-protein Interfaces
ATP Synthase: Structure

