Function
Activin A or inhibitin β chain A (ActA) is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Activin interacts with activin receptors to induce phosphorylation of intracellular signalling molecules which regulate the transcription of many genes in a cell- and tissue-specific manner.
Relevance
There is a strong overexpression of activin A in inflammatory bowel disease[1]. Activin A plays an important role in chronic rhinosinusitis inflammation.
Structural highlights
Activin is synthesyzed as a large precursor and its pro domain is cleaved proteolitically releasing a mature domain[2].
- ↑ Hubner G, Brauchle M, Gregor M, Werner S. Activin A: a novel player and inflammatory marker in inflammatory bowel disease? Lab Invest. 1997 Oct;77(4):311-8. PMID:9354766
- ↑ Wang X, Fischer G, Hyvonen M. Structure and activation of pro-activin A. Nat Commun. 2016 Jul 4;7:12052. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12052. PMID:27373274 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12052