title: Gas6 and protein S. Vitamin K-dependent ligands for the Axl receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily.
abstract: Gas6 and protein S are two homologous secreted proteins that depend on vitamin K for their execution of a range of biological functions. A discrete subset of these functions is mediated through their binding to and activation of the receptor tyrosine kinases Axl, Sky and Mer. Furthermore, a hallmark of the Gas6-Axl system is the unique ability of Gas6 and protein S to tether their non receptor-binding regions to the negatively charged membranes of apoptotic cells. Numerous studies have shown the Gas6-Axl system to regulate cell survival, proliferation, migration, adhesion and phagocytosis. Consequently, altered activity/expression of its components has been detected in a variety of pathologies such as cancer and vascular, autoimmune and kidney disorders. Moreover, Axl overactivation can equally occur without ligand binding, which has implications for tumorigenesis. Further knowledge of this exquisite ligand-receptor system and the circumstances of its activation should provide the basis for development of novel therapies for the above diseases.
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section for Clinical Chemistry, Wallenberg Laboratory, University Hospital Malmö, Sweden. sassan.hafizi@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Sassan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hafizi
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dahlbäck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017293:Protein S / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000378:metabolism; D000076202:c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D017293:Protein S; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014812:Vitamin K; D000076202:c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6; C490216:SKY1 protein, S cerevisiae; C097072:MERTK protein, human; C084944:TYRO3 protein, human; C000722289:AXL protein, human