14-3-3 protein - Definition and Overview

14-3-3 proteins are a family of conserved regulatory molecules expressed in all eukaryotic cells. 14-3-3 proteins have the ability to bind a multitude of functionally diverse signaling proteins, including kinases, phosphatases, and transmembrane receptors. More than 50 signaling proteins have been reported as 14-3-3 ligands.

Elevated amounts of 14-3-3 proteins are found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Properties of 14-3-3 proteins

There are seven known mammalian 14-3-3 isoforms, and 14-3-3 proteins usually exist as dimers. The common recognition motif for 14-3-3 proteins is a phosphorylated serine recognition motif - RSxpSP - but also binding to non-phosphorylated ligands has been reported.

14-3-3 regulating cell-signalling

Raf-1 Bad Cdc25