S100 Calcium Binding Protein A7, also known as Psoriasin, is a member of the S100 family of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins. This protein is encoded by the S100A7 gene, which is located on chromosome 1q21.3 . The recombinant form of this protein, referred to as Human Recombinant S100A7, is produced using E. coli expression systems .
S100A7 is a small protein with a molecular weight of approximately 11-12 kDa . It contains two EF-hand domains, which are helix-loop-helix structural motifs capable of binding calcium ions . The protein typically forms a noncovalently-linked homodimer .
The primary function of S100A7 is to bind calcium ions, which plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including cell cycle regulation, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation . It is also involved in the immune response and has been shown to induce the secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human epithelial carcinoma cells .
S100A7 was initially identified in the epidermis of psoriatic skin, hence the name Psoriasin . It is highly expressed in psoriatic lesions and is also found in other inflammatory skin conditions. Additionally, S100A7 is expressed in various epithelial tissues and has been associated with several types of cancer, including breast cancer and bladder squamous cell carcinoma .
The overexpression of S100A7 in cancerous tissues suggests that it may play a role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. It is thought to contribute to the abnormal pathways of differentiation observed in malignant cells .
The recombinant form of S100A7 is produced using E. coli expression systems. The protein is typically purified to a high degree of purity (>90% or >95%) using conventional chromatography techniques . The recombinant protein may be tagged with a His-tag at the N-terminus to facilitate purification .
Recombinant S100A7 is used in various research applications, including studies on its role in inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. It is also used to investigate the mechanisms of calcium binding and the regulation of cellular processes by calcium-binding proteins.