| Background : |
SORL1 (sortilin-related receptor, L A repeats containing) also known as sorting protein-related receptor containing LDLR class A (SorLA), is a Type I membrane protein that may be involved in cell-cell interaction. SorLA, a single transmembrane receptor, binds LDL and transports it into cells by endocytosis. SorLA is synthesized as a proreceptor which is processed to the mature form by a furin-like propeptidase. It can also bind to RAP (receptor-associated protein). SorLA is a multifunctional endocytis receptor important in lipoprotein and protease uptake. The N-terminal propeptide, which is removed, can be cleaved by furin or homologous proteases. Endogenous SorLA binds the neuropeptide head activator (HA) and is important for HA signaling and function. The gene encoding for the protein maps to chromosome 8p23.1. SorLA is expressed mainly in brain (cerebral cortex, cerebellum and the occipital pole), but can also be found in liver, spinal cord, kidney, testis and pancreas.e of the largest families of proteins in eukaryotes. The family has been classified in 8 major groups based on sequence comparison of their tyrosine (PTK) or serine/ threonine (STK) kinase catalytic domains. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play a key role in the communication of cells with their microenvironment. These molecules are involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and metabolism. In several cases the biochemical mechanism by which RTKs transduce signals across the membrane has been shown to be ligand induced receptor oligomerization and subsequent intracellular phosphorylation. This autophosphorylation leads to phosphorylation of cytosolic targets as well as association with other molecules, which are involved in pleiotropic effects of signal transduction. RTKs have a tripartite structure with extracellular, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic regions. This gene encodes a member of a novel subclass of RTKs and contains a distinct extracellular region encompassing a factor VIII-like domain. Alternative splicing in the 5\' UTR results in multiple transcript variants encoding the same protein. |
