14-3-3 protein

14–3–3, a family of acidic and soluble proteins, highly conserved in amino acid sequences from yeast to mammals, is xpressed in all eukaryotic cells. Seven isoforms(β, γ, ε, η, ζ, σ and τ/θ) encoded by seven distinct genes are identified in mammals and forms homo- and heterodimeric cup-shaped structures. As 14–3–3 is interacted with more than 100 binding partners, it regulates key proteins involved in various biological processes such as signal trans-duction, cell cycle, transcriptional control, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and ion channel physiology. Most 14–3–3 requires phosphorylation of serine or threonine residues in the target sequence. This protein is abundantly expressed in the brain and has been detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with different neurological disorders.