NGAL的结构与功能研究进展

NGAL（neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin)是一种新的lipocalin，其结构与功能的研究进展为人瞩目，目前认为NGAL具有运输疏水性分子，调节明胶酶B（gelatinaseB或matrix metalloproteinase-9,MMP-9)活性等功能，并可能参与免疫炎症反应以及肿瘤的发生发展，特别是肿瘤的浸润转移等过程，最近，NGAL蛋白的空间结构已被研究清楚，这对于促进NGAL生物学作用或功能的研究。特别是对其新的生物学作用或功能的探索，比如与肿瘤的关系（NGAL可能是一种新的癌基因或促癌基因）将具有十分重要的意义。对此作者进行了综合评述。

Progress in structure and function of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin

The neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL)is a new member of the lipocalin family. It has been shown that NGAL transports the small hydrophobic molecular, regulates gelati-nase B(matrix metalloproteinase-9 , MMP-9) activity and may act as a modulator of the immune inflammatory response and may be involved in invasive process and metastasis in malignant cells. Recently, NGAL soluble and cryctal structure was identified. This is of important significance to further explore NGAL biological roles or functions, specially, the relationships with carcinogene-sis(NGAL may be a new oncogene or tumor-promoting gene).The article reviews the characters of NGAL structure and biological functions.