Jag1

Fig1. JAG1 protein structure. (Christopher M Grochowski, 2016)

What is JAG1 protein?

JAG1 gene (jagged canonical Notch ligand 1) is a protein coding gene which situated on the short arm of chromosome 20 at locus 20p12. JAG1 is a cell surface ligand that primarily plays a role in the highly conserved Notch signaling pathway. Notch signaling plays a critical role in cell fate determination and is active during development as well as in multiple organ systems. Typical interactions between JAG1 and Notch result in a series of proteolytic cleavages, with the result that the Notch intracellular domain is transported into the nucleus, where it activates transcription of downstream target genes. The JAG1 protein is consisted of 1218 amino acids and JAG1 molecular weight is approximately 133.8 kDa.

What is the function of JAG1 protein?

JAG1 protein is a type I transmembrane protein that belongs to the Notch family of receptors. It is involved in the development and maintenance of the nervous system, as well as in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. JAG1 protein interacts with the NOTCH receptor to activate the NOTCH signaling pathway, which is important for regulating cell fate decisions during embryonic development. In addition, JAG1 protein has been implicated in a number of human diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia.

JAG1 related signaling pathway

By binding to the Notch receptor, JAG1 triggers a series of proteolytic cleavage processes, resulting in the transport of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) into the nucleus and activation of transcription of downstream target genes. This signaling pathway plays a crucial role in cell fate determination, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis.

In tumors, the formation of JAG1's intracellular domain (JICD1) is enhanced by carcinogenic signals including IL-4-PI3Kd/AKT or KRAS/ERK/ADAM17 signaling. JICD1 enhances tumor formation by forming transcription complex with DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17)/SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3)/ TGF-β-induced factor homeobox 2 (TGIF2).

JAG1 related diseases

JAG1 protein (Jagged1) is a cell surface ligand that is mainly involved in the Notch signaling pathway. This signaling pathway plays a key role in cell fate determination, tissue development and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Mutations in JAG1 have been linked to a variety of diseases, notably Alagille syndrome, a multisystem dominant genetic disorder affecting the liver, heart, bones, eyes, face, kidneys, and vascular systems. In addition, mutations in the JAG1 gene have also been linked to several types of cancer, including breast cancer and adrenal cortical cancer. In cancer, JAG1 overexpression is associated with tumor aggressiveness, metastasis and poor prognosis, and it promotes tumor cell proliferation, survival, chemotherapy resistance and cancer stem cell characteristics by activating Notch signaling pathway.

Bioapplications of JAG1

Practical applications related to JAG1 are mainly in the fields of medicine and biotechnology, especially its potential in tumor therapy, neurodegenerative disease research and drug development. Since the JAG1 protein is involved in the regulation of the NOTCH signaling pathway, which is often malregulated in a variety of cancers, JAG1 has become a potential anticancer therapeutic target. By developing inhibitors or antibodies against JAG1, abnormal NOTCH signaling can be blocked, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. In addition, JAG1 also plays an important role in nervous system development and disease, and studying the function of JAG1 can help to understand and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In drug development, small molecules or biologics that regulate JAG1 expression or function are being investigated to explore their application value in clinical therapy.