Vav3蛋白的调控机制及其生物学功能

Vav家族蛋白是Rho家族GTPase的鸟嘌呤核苷酸转移因子.Vav3作为Vav家族蛋白的成员之一,由8个结构域组成,其结构的复杂性赋予其功能的多样性.它可通过调节Rho家族不同成员的活性参与对MAPK、PI3K-Akt、NF-κB等信号转导通路的调控,在维持细胞形态、细胞黏附、血管生成、免疫功能的调节和细胞分化等过程中发挥重要作用.最近的研究发现,Vav3表达的失调与肿瘤发生密切相关,提示Vav3具有原癌基因的活性.本文对Vav3蛋白的结构、功能及其上下游的信号调节通路等进行了综述.

Regulatory Mechanism and Biological Functions of Vav3 Protein

Vav proteins (Vav1, Vav2, and Vav3) function as guanosine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for the Rho/Rac family proteins. As a member of Vav family proteins, Vav3 contains multiple domains that enable its function in various fashions by activating different Rho GTPases. It couples cell surface receptors to various effectors and modulates multiple signaling pathways including MAPK, PI3K-Akt and NF-κB. Vav3 plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of cell shape, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, regulation of immunity and cell differentiation. Recent studies indicated that the deregulated expression of Vav3 is often linked to tumorigenicity. This suggested that Vav3 can work as a proto-oncogene. The scope of this review is to highlight the structure and numerous roles of the Vav3 and its related signal pathways.