Recombinant Human htrA4 protein

Supplementary information

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

HtrA4 also known as High Temperature Requirement A4 functions as a serine protease. This protein belongs to the HtrA family characterized by proteolytic activities that ensure cellular homeostasis. It weighs approximately 54 kDa. Expression of htrA4 occurs mostly in placenta but can also be found at lower levels in several other tissues like heart liver and kidney. This expression pattern suggests specific roles in tissue-specific contexts especially in embryonic development and various physiological processes.

Biological function summary

HtrA4 plays a role in cellular stress response and apoptosis. The protein acts by regulating the degradation of misfolded proteins helping maintain cellular protein quality control. htrA4 functions independently and does not form part of a larger macromolecular complex. It mediates apoptosis by cleaving specific substrates influencing cell death pathways especially during development or under cellular stress conditions.

Pathways

HtrA4 integrates into protein quality control and apoptosis signaling cascades. htrA4 participates especially in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. It interacts with proteins such as caspases which are important in executing cell death processes and may also be involved moderately in the unfolded protein response. These interactions often facilitate the removal of damaged cells maintaining tissue health and function.

HtrA4 emerges as relevant in cancer and preeclampsia. In some cancers altered htrA4 expression correlates with tumor progression and resistance to apoptosis linking its role to uncontrolled cell proliferation. In preeclampsia abnormal htrA4 expression in the placenta associates with improper placental development. htrA4 also interacts with other key proteins like survivin in cancer indicating a potential role in therapeutic interventions targeting these diseases.