title: Characterization of chicken TNFR superfamily decoy receptors, DcR3 and osteoprotegerin.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family ligands bind to death domain-containing TNF receptors (death receptors), which can subsequently activate intracellular signaling pathways to initiate caspase activity and apoptotic cell death. Decoy receptors, without intracellular death domains, have been reported to prevent cytotoxic effects by binding to and sequestering such ligands, or by interfering with death receptor trimerization. The chicken death receptors, Fas, TNFR1, DR6, and TVB, are constitutively expressed in a relatively wide variety of hen tissues. In this study, two chicken receptors with sequence homology to the mammalian decoys, DcR3 and osteoprotegerin, were identified and their pattern of expression was characterized. Unlike the previously identified chicken death receptors, the newly characterized decoy receptors show comparatively limited expression among tissues, suggesting a tissue-specific function. Finally, characterization of these chicken receptors further contributes to understanding the evolutionary divergence of TNFR superfamily members among vertebrate species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Notre Dame, P.O. Box 369, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Bridgham
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b