The TNF-receptor-associated factor family: Scaffold molecules for cytokine receptors, kinases and their regulators

• Published in: Cellular Signalling 2001-06, Vol.13 (6), p.389-400
• Main Authors: Wajant, Harald, Henkler, Frank, Scheurich, Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; E3-Ligase; Enzyme Activation; Humans; JNK; Kinetics; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Models, Biological; Multigene Family; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-κB; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases; Proteins - chemistry; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; RANK Ligand; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; Receptors, Cytokine - metabolism; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - genetics; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - physiology; Signal Transduction; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1; TNF-receptor superfamily; TRAF; Transcription, Genetic; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0898-6568; 1873-3913
• DOI: 10.1016/S0898-6568(01)00160-7

The TNF-receptor-associated factor (TRAF) family is a phylogenetically conserved group of scaffold proteins that link receptors of the IL-1R/Toll and TNF receptor family to signalling cascades, leading to the activation of NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Furthermore, TRAF proteins serve as a docking platform for a variety of regulators of these signalling pathways and are themselves often regulated at the transcriptional and posttranslational level. In this review, we address the structural and molecular basis of TRAF protein functions and highlight their role in cytokine signalling.