The tetraspanin web modulates immune-signalling complexes.
The tetraspanin web represents a new concept of molecular interactions in the immune system. Whereas most surface immune-modulating molecules involve receptor-ligand interactions, tetraspanins associate with partner proteins and facilitate their lateral positioning in the membrane. Moreover, the same tetraspanin molecule can associate with different proteins depending on the cell type. Most importantly, members of this family tend to associate with each other, together with their partners, in membrane microdomains that provide a scaffold for the transmission of external stimuli to intracellular-signalling components.
Levy
Shoshana
S
Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA. levy@cmgm.stanford.edu
Shoham
Tsipi
T
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D060225:Tetraspanin 28
D015703:Antigens, CD; C554798:CD81 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D060225:Tetraspanin 28