About RAMP / Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein:
Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein, or RAMP for short, is a protein that regulates the activity of receptors in cells. When RAMP is activated, it can slow down or stop the receptor activity. Scientists found out that when they activated RAMP in certain types of neurons, the amount of neurotransmitters released from these neurons was decreased. This is because RAMP slows down or stops receptors from being activated and signaling to other cells in the brain.
RAMP Interaction
RAMP regulates the size of the receptor's binding pocket. When an integrin binds to its ligand, this molecule and RAMP form a complex that activates kinase activity on the integrin's cytoplasmic tail. This leads to activation of other molecules such as focal adhesion kinase or Src family kinases. These activated molecules then lead to the polymerization of actin.
Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein Function
Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins serve many functions in the cellular environment. They are involved with controlling the amount of signaling from a receptor when it interacts with its ligand, as well as assisting in signaling through neurotransmitter receptors. Studies have shown that RAPMs can be used to help regulate diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and cancer.
RAMP Structure
The structure of RAMP proteins is very similar to that of other G protein-coupled receptors. They have seven alpha helices, four extracellular loops, and one intracellular loop. They are ligands that bind to cell surface receptors and can provide therapeutic qualities.
Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein Mechanism
Some RAMP proteins have a role in regulating the release of neurotransmitters, which are important for sending signals between neurons. RAMP proteins are important for transporting cargoes of neurotransmitters to the right place. They can bind and regulate vesicles, cell membranes, and synapses.