Nerve Growth Factor IB (NGFIB)

NGFIB plays a key role in mediating inflammatory responses in macrophages. In addition, subcellular localization of the NGFIB protein appears to play a key role in the survival and death of cells.Expression is induced by phytohemagglutinin in human lymphocytes and by serum stimulation of arrested fibroblasts. Translocation of the protein from the nucleus to mitochondria induces apoptosis. Multiple alternatively spliced variants, encoding the same protein, have been identified.The protein has an atypical ligand-binding domain that is unlike the classical ligand-binding domain in most nuclear receptors. The classical domain contains a ligand-receiving pocket and co-activator site, both of which are lacking in the NR4A family. Where most nuclear receptors have a hydrophobic surface that results in a cleft, NGFI-B has a hydrophilic surface.