IL-7R alpha Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody

Function

The interleukin-7 receptor is a protein found on the surface of cells. It is made up of two different smaller protein chains - i.e. it is a heterodimer, and consists of two subunits, interleukin-7 receptor-α (CD127) and common-γ chain receptor (CD132). The common-γ chain receptors is shared with various cytokines, including interleukin-2, -4, -9, and -15. Interleukin-7 receptor is expressed on various cell types, including naive and memory T cells and many others. Interleukin-7 receptor has been shown to play a critical role in the development of immune cells called lymphocytes - specifically in a process known as V(D)J recombination [citation needed]. This protein is also found to control the accessibility of a region of the genome that contains the T-cell receptor gamma gene, by STAT5 and histone acetylation [citation needed]. Knockout studies in mice suggest that blocking apoptosis is an essential function of this protein during differentiation and activation of T lymphocytes. Functional defects in this protein may be associated with the pathogenesis of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).

Background References

1. Puel A et al. Defective IL7R expression in T(-)B(+)NK(+) severe combined immunodeficiency. Nat Genet 20:394-397 (1998).

2. Roifman C M et al. A partial deficiency of interleukin-7R alpha is sufficient to abrogate T-cell development and cause severe combined immunodeficiency. Blood 96:2803-2807 (2000).

Sequence Similarity

Belongs to the type I cytokine receptor family. Type 4 subfamily.

Post-translational Modification

N-glycosylated IL-7Ralpha binds IL7 300-fold more tightly than the unglycosylated form.

Subcellular Location

Membrane. Secreted.

UNIPROT

SwissProt: P16871 Human

SwissProt: E9QDP8 Zebrafish

Synonyms