Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
509291 
Journal Article 
Nephrin - a unique structural and signaling protein of the kidney filter 
Patrakka, J; Tryggvason, K 
2007 
1 
Trends in Molecular Medicine
ISSN: 1471-4914 
13 
9 
396-403 
English 
Since the discovery of nephrin, the first integral component of the slit diaphragm to be identified, the podocyte slit pore has become a major focus in research concerning the glomerular filtration barrier. Nephrin is a central component of the glomerular ultrafilter, with both structural and signaling functions. The extracellular domain of nephrin and other components of the slit diaphragm seem to form a porous molecular sieve. The intracellular domain of nephrin is associated with linker proteins, such as CD2-associated protein and Nck proteins that can connect nephrin to the actin cytoskeleton. Alterations in nephrin interactions with other proteins during development or injury can lead to complex signaling reactions aimed at establishing or restoring the filter function. 
congenital nephrotic syndrome; glomerular slit diaphragm; mice lacking; segmental glomerulosclerosis; cd2-associated protein; diabetic-nephropathy; perinatal lethality; basement-membrane; heparan-sulfate; deficient mice