FCER1A
Encyclopedia
Fc fragment of IgE, high affinity I, receptor for; alpha polypeptide, also known as FCER1A, is a protein
which in humans is encoded by the FCER1A gene
.
to initiate the inflammatory and immediate hypersensitivity responses that are characteristic of disorders such as hay fever and asthma. The allergic response occurs when 2 or more IgE receptors are crosslinked via IgE molecules that in turn are bound to an allergen (antigen) molecule. A perturbation occurs that brings about the release of histamine and proteases from the granules in the cytoplasm of the mast cell and leads to the synthesis of prostaglandin
s and leukotriene
s--potent effectors of the hypersensitivity response. The IgE receptor consists of 3 subunits: alpha (this protein), beta
, and gamma; only the alpha subunit is glycosylated
.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
which in humans is encoded by the FCER1A gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.
Function
The high affinity IgE receptor plays a central role in allergic disease, coupling allergen and mast cellMast cell
A mast cell is a resident cell of several types of tissues and contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin...
to initiate the inflammatory and immediate hypersensitivity responses that are characteristic of disorders such as hay fever and asthma. The allergic response occurs when 2 or more IgE receptors are crosslinked via IgE molecules that in turn are bound to an allergen (antigen) molecule. A perturbation occurs that brings about the release of histamine and proteases from the granules in the cytoplasm of the mast cell and leads to the synthesis of prostaglandin
Prostaglandin
A prostaglandin is any member of a group of lipid compounds that are derived enzymatically from fatty acids and have important functions in the animal body. Every prostaglandin contains 20 carbon atoms, including a 5-carbon ring....
s and leukotriene
Leukotriene
Leukotrienes are fatty signaling molecules. They were first found in leukocytes . One of their roles is to trigger contractions in the smooth muscles lining the trachea; their overproduction is a major cause of inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis...
s--potent effectors of the hypersensitivity response. The IgE receptor consists of 3 subunits: alpha (this protein), beta
MS4A2
High affinity immunoglobulin epsilon receptor subunit beta is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MS4A2 gene.-Function:The allergic response involves the binding of allergen to receptor-bound IgE followed by cell activation and the release of mediators responsible for the manifestations of...
, and gamma; only the alpha subunit is glycosylated
Glycosylation
Glycosylation is the reaction in which a carbohydrate, i.e. a glycosyl donor, is attached to a hydroxyl or other functional group of another molecule . In biology glycosylation refers to the enzymatic process that attaches glycans to proteins, lipids, or other organic molecules...
.