ACRATA: a novel electron transfer domain associated to apoptosis and cancer.
BACKGROUND
Recently, several members of a vertebrate protein family containing a six trans-membrane (6TM) domain and involved in apoptosis and cancer (e.g. STEAP, STAMP1, TSAP6), have been identified in Golgi and cytoplasmic membranes. The exact function of these proteins remains unknown.


METHODS
We related this 6TM domain to distant protein families using intermediate sequences and methods of iterative profile sequence similarity search.


RESULTS
Here we show for the first time that this 6TM domain is homolog to the 6TM heme binding domain of both the NADPH oxidase (Nox) family and the YedZ family of bacterial oxidoreductases.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding gives novel insights about the existence of a previously undetected electron transfer system involved in apoptosis and cancer, and suggests further steps in the experimental characterization of these evolutionarily related families.
Sanchez-Pulido
Luis
L
Protein Design Group, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Cantoblanco, Madrid, E-28049, Spain. sanchez@cnb.uam.es <sanchez@cnb.uam.es>
Rojas
Ana M
AM
Valencia
Alfonso
A
Martinez-A
Carlos
C
Andrade
Miguel A
MA
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000235:genetics; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C495992:YedY protein, E coli; C432763:STEAP1 protein, human; C467741:STEAP2 protein, human; D019255:NADPH Oxidases