TNF Receptor Superfamily

TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) members are transmembrane proteins cysteine-rich motifs in their extracellular domains that bind to their cognate ligands. About 30 members of TNFRSF members have been identified. Tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) are primarily type I transmembrane proteins containing an extracellular TNF binding region and a cytoplasmic tail. But BCMA, TACI, BAFFR and XEDAR belong to Type III transmembrane proteins[1]. TNFRs can be divided into three types: (1) receptors containing the death domain (DD) (fatty acid synthase, TNFR1, and DR3) activate caspase cascades via the external apoptotic pathway triggered by DD; (2) the cytoplasmic cauda region contains one or more TRAF interaction mods (TIM), which recruit TRAF family members and ultimately activate key molecules of multiple signal transduction pathways; (3) it does not contain functional intracellular signaling domain or motif, and can competitively bind to the corresponding ligand with the other two groups of receptors[2]. TNFRSF are primarily involved in apoptosis and inflammation, also and are also involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival[3][4].