Prothymosin alpha is a nuclear protein

FEBS Lett. 1988 Jan 4;226(2):217-9. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(88)81425-x.

Abstract

Prothymosin alpha, a protein first isolated from rat thymus and widely distributed in animal tissues, has an attributed role in the stimulation of the immune system. Its structure contains thymosin alpha 1, a Glu-rich domain and a putative nuclear location signal. Furthermore, the amount of this protein seems to be associated with the relative size of the nucleus and is inducible during cell growth. We postulate that prothymosin alpha is located inside the cell nucleus and that its activity might be to organize some protein complexes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Species Specificity
  • Thymosin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Thymosin / genetics
  • Thymosin / physiology
  • Thymus Gland / physiology

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • prothymosin alpha
  • Thymosin