Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Molecular Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
Hum Genomics. 2013 Oct 30;7(1):22. doi: 10.1186/1479-7364-7-22.
The serpin family comprises a structurally similar, yet functionally diverse, set of proteins. Named originally for their function as serine proteinase inhibitors, many of its members are not inhibitors but rather chaperones, involved in storage, transport, and other roles. Serpins are found in genomes of all kingdoms, with 36 human protein-coding genes and five pseudogenes. The mouse has 60 Serpin functional genes, many of which are orthologous to human SERPIN genes and some of which have expanded into multiple paralogous genes. Serpins are found in tissues throughout the body; whereas most are extracellular, there is a class of intracellular serpins. Serpins appear to have roles in inflammation, immune function, tumorigenesis, blood clotting, dementia, and cancer metastasis. Further characterization of these proteins will likely reveal potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for disease.
丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂家族包含一组结构相似但功能不同的蛋白质。最初因其作为丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂的功能而得名，但其许多成员并非抑制剂，而是伴侣蛋白，参与储存、运输和其他作用。丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂存在于所有生物界的基因组中，人类有 36 个编码蛋白质的基因和 5 个假基因。老鼠有 60 个丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂功能基因，其中许多与人类 SERPIN 基因同源，有些则扩展为多个基因的同源基因。丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂存在于全身各组织中；大多数是细胞外的，也有一类细胞内丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂。丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂似乎在炎症、免疫功能、肿瘤发生、血液凝固、痴呆和癌症转移中发挥作用。进一步研究这些蛋白质可能会发现疾病的潜在生物标志物和治疗靶点。
