A region of the 75 kDa neurotrophin receptor homologous to the death domains of TNFR-I and Fas

FEBS Lett. 1995 Oct 30;374(2):216-20. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(95)01113-s.

Abstract

Members of the NTR/TNFR family mediate apoptosis in many tissues, yet sequence homology has not been detected in their intracellular domains except for a 'death domain' in TNFR-I and Fas. Here, a region of the 75 kDa neurotrophin receptor (NTR) has been aligned with this apoptosis-inducing motif. Peptides at the carboxyl terminus of each domain potentially form amphiphilic helices, one of which (in NTR) resembles mastoparan, a G-protein activating peptide. Molecular models of three death-region peptides suggest that observed sequence similarities reflect a common structure, perhaps capable of undergoing an induced coil to helix transition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / chemistry*
  • Apoptosis*
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Wasp Venoms / chemistry
  • fas Receptor / chemistry

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
  • Wasp Venoms
  • fas Receptor
  • mastoparan