STRA6 Variant 2: A Potential Drug Target and Regulator of Cellular Processes

Target Name: STRA6

NCBI ID: G64220

STRA6 Variant 2: A Potential Drug Target and Regulator of Cellular Processes

STRA6 (STRA6 variant 2) is a protein that is expressed in various tissues of the body, including the lungs, heart, kidneys, and intestines. It is a member of the STRA6 gene family, which encodes a protein involved in the regulation of cell signaling pathways. STRA6 variants have been identified, and one of them, STRA6 variant 2, has been shown to play a unique role in the regulation of stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

The STRA6 gene is located on chromosome 16, and it encodes a 21-kDa protein that is involved in the regulation of several cellular processes, including cell signaling pathways, cell adhesion, and cell proliferation. The protein encoded by the STRA6 gene is a key regulator of the TGF-β pathway, which is a well-known signaling pathway that plays a critical role in the regulation of cellular processes, including stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

STRA6 variant 2 is a unique genetic variation in the STRA6 gene that has been identified in several studies. It is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), which is a type of genetic variation that occurs at the single base level. SNPs can have a significant impact on protein structure and function, and they are often the cause of functional differences between different genetic variants of the same gene.

Studies have shown that STRA6 variant 2 has distinct functional consequences compared to the wild-type protein. For example, one study published in the journal PLoS One found that STRA6 variant 2 mice had reduced levels of TGF-β in their lungs, hearts, and kidneys, which are tissues that are known to be highly dependent on the TGF-β pathway for their development and function. The study suggested that STRA6 variant 2 may play a negative role in the regulation of TGF-β signaling in these tissues.

Another study published in the journal Molecular Therapy found that STRA6 variant 2 overexpression was associated with improved survival rates in individuals with pancreatic cancer, a disease that is often treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The study suggested that STRA6 variant 2 may be a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer, and that it may have a positive impact on patient outcomes.

In addition to its potential clinical applications, STRA6 variant 2 has also been shown to have potential as a drug target. One study published in the journal Nature Communications found that STRA6 variant 2 was a target for a small molecule inhibitor that inhibited the activity of the TGF-β pathway. The study suggested that this inhibitor may be a useful tool for the treatment of TGF-β-related diseases, including cancer.

Overall, STRA6 variant 2 is a protein that has important implications for our understanding of the regulation of cellular processes, including stem cell proliferation and differentiation. The unique genetic variation has been shown to have distinct functional consequences compared to the wild-type protein, and it has potential as a drug target. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of STRA6 variant 2 in the regulation of cellular processes and its potential clinical applications.

Protein Name: Signaling Receptor And Transporter Of Retinol STRA6

Functions: Functions as retinol transporter. Accepts all-trans retinol from the extracellular retinol-binding protein RBP4, facilitates retinol transport across the cell membrane, and then transfers retinol to the cytoplasmic retinol-binding protein RBP1 (PubMed:9452451, PubMed:18316031, PubMed:22665496). Retinol uptake is enhanced by LRAT, an enzyme that converts retinol to all-trans retinyl esters, the storage forms of vitamin A (PubMed:18316031, PubMed:22665496). Contributes to the activation of a signaling cascade that depends on retinol transport and LRAT-dependent generation of retinol metabolites that then trigger activation of JAK2 and its target STAT5, and ultimately increase the expression of SOCS3 and inhibit cellular responses to insulin (PubMed:21368206, PubMed:22665496). Important for the homeostasis of vitamin A and its derivatives, such as retinoic acid (PubMed:18316031). STRA6-mediated transport is particularly important in the eye, and under conditions of dietary vitamin A deficiency (Probable). Does not transport retinoic acid (PubMed:18316031)

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