Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR) Associated Factor (TRAF) family, TRAF2 subfamily, TRAF domain; TRAF molecules serve as adapter proteins that link TNFRs and downstream kinase cascades resulting in the activation of transcription factors and the regulation of cell survival, proliferation and stress responses. TRAF2 associates with the receptors TNFR-1, TNFR-2, RANK (which mediates differentiation and maturation of osteoclasts) and CD40 (which is important for the proliferation and activation of B cells), among others. It regulates distinct pathways that lead to the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB and Jun NH2-terminal kinases. TRAF2 also indirectly associates with death receptors through its interaction with TRADD (TNFR-associated death domain protein). It is involved in regulating oxidative stress or ROS-induced cell death and in the preconditioning of cells by sublethal stress for protection from subsequent injury. TRAF2 contains a RING finger domain, five zinc finger domains, and a TRAF domain. The TRAF domain can be divided into a more divergent N-terminal alpha helical region (TRAF-N), and a highly conserved C-terminal MATH subdomain (TRAF-C) with an eight-stranded beta-sandwich structure. TRAF-N mediates trimerization while TRAF-C interacts with receptors.
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