Erbin

Erbin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ERBB2IP gene. It is a member of the LAP (leucine-rich repeats and PDZ domain) family of proteins and plays a crucial role in the regulation of cell signaling pathways.

Structure

Erbin is characterized by the presence of leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and a PDZ domain. The LRRs are involved in protein-protein interactions, while the PDZ domain is important for binding to the C-terminus of other proteins.

Function

Erbin is known to interact with the ErbB2 receptor, a member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. This interaction is crucial for the localization and stability of ErbB2 at the cell membrane. Erbin also plays a role in the regulation of the Ras signaling pathway, which is important for cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival.

Clinical Significance

Mutations or alterations in the expression of the ERBB2IP gene have been implicated in various types of cancer, including breast cancer and gastric cancer. Erbin's interaction with ErbB2 is particularly significant in the context of HER2-positive breast cancer, where overexpression of ErbB2 leads to aggressive tumor growth.

Research

Ongoing research is focused on understanding the detailed mechanisms by which Erbin regulates cell signaling pathways and its potential as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment.

Related Proteins

Erbin is related to other LAP family proteins, such as Densin-180 and Scribble, which also contain LRRs and PDZ domains and are involved in cell signaling and polarity.

See Also

• ErbB2
• Ras signaling pathway
• HER2-positive breast cancer
• LAP family proteins
• Densin-180
• Scribble