TNFR

Tumor necrosis factors ([url=http://www.creativebiomart.net/gene-family-5-tnf.htm
]TNF[/url]) receptor ([url=http://www.creativebiomart.net/gene-family/38-tnfr.htm
]TNFR[/url]) family is consisting of a group of proteins with an extracellular domain rich in cysteine residues. These receptors are activated by specific TNF ligands. There are about 30 TNF receptors having been reported in humans.

Most TNF receptors form trimeric complexes in the plasma membrane as the active form and these receptors bind to TNF ligands as multimeric entities. Signaling through these receptors involves with cytoplasmic adaptor proteins (such as TRADD and TRAF1) as downstream. TNF receptors not only play a key role in apoptosis and inflammation but also involve in other signal transduction pathways, for example, survival, proliferation and differentiation. Some TNF receptors contain a ‘death domains’ which is crucial for the initiation of an apoptotic response.