Activin

Function

Activin A or inhibitin β chain A (ActA) is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Activin interacts with activin receptors to induce phosphorylation of intracellular signalling molecules which regulate the transcription of many genes in a cell- and tissue-specific manner.

Relevance

There is a strong overexpression of activin A in inflammatory bowel disease^[1]. Activin A plays an important role in chronic rhinosinusitis inflammation.

Structural highlights

Activin is synthesyzed as a large precursor and its pro domain is cleaved proteolitically releasing a mature domain^[2].