%0 Journal Article %T Characterization and function of human Ly-6/uPAR molecules %A Hyun Kyung Kong & Jong Hoon Park* %J BMB Reports %D 2012 %I Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology %X Human Ly-6/uPAR molecules are a superfamily composed oftwo subfamilies; one is the membrane bound proteins with aGPI-anchor and the other are secreted proteins without theGPI-anchor. Ly-6/uPAR molecules have remarkable amino acidhomology through a distinctive 8-10 cysteine-rich domain thatis associated predominantly with O-linked glycans. Thesemolecules are encoded by multiple tightly linked genes locatedon Chr. 8q23, and have a conserved genomic organization.Ly-6/uPAR molecules have an interesting expression patternduring hematopoiesis and on specific tumors indicating thatLy-6/uPAR molecules are associated with development of theimmune system and carcinogenesis. Thus, Ly-6/uPAR moleculesare useful antigens for diagnostic and therapeutic targets.This review summarizes our understanding of human Ly-6/uPAR molecules with regard to molecular structure as well aswhat is known about their function in normal and malignanttissues and suggest Ly-6/uPAR molecules as target antigens forcancer immunotherapy. %K Cancer metastasis %K Cancer therapy %K Gene family %K Hematopoiesis %K Immune system %K Tumorigenesi %U http://www.jbmb.or.kr/jbmb/pdf.php?data=MTMwMTIyMTVAcGRmX3JhaW50cmFjZV9sZWV5c0AlNUI0NS0xMSU1RDEyMTEyOTEzNDJfJTI4NTk1LTYwMyUyOUJNQl8xMi0yMTAlMjhNaW5pcmV2aWV3JTI5LnBkZg==