RANKL/CD254

RANKL (TNFSF11), a type II transmembrane protein, is a receptor ligand for NF-κB (RANK). RANKL is an activator of NF-κB. RANKL binds to NF-κB and induces the differentiation of monocyte/macrophage-lineage cells into osteoclasts and leads to osteoclast precursor maturation. RANKL is critical for osteoclasts maturation, bone modeling, and bone remodeling, as well as the development of lymph nodes (LNs). In bone tissue, RANKL is expressed by osteoblasts, osteocytes and immune cells, especially in osteoblasts and osteocytes[1]. Human RANKL shares 82.02% and 84.44% common aa identity with mouse and rat respectively. Mouse RANKL Protein shares 94.94% common aa identity with rat. Human RANKL consists of cytoplasmic domain (M1-S47), helical domain (M48-F68), and extracellular domain (Y69-D317). The soluble chain (140-317) is released when cleaved by enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP3 or 7) and ADAM[1][2].