RANK oligomerisation and signalling

RANK and RANK ligand are crucial for the formation, function and survival of osteoclasts. The role of the pre-ligand assembly domain (PLAD) in downstream NFκB signalling has not been extensively studied. Discovery of truncating mutations of TNFRSF11A lacking PLAD offered the opportunity for functional study of this region. Das and colleagues demonstrate that the absence of PLAD does not necessarily prevent ligand-induced trimerisation and subsequent NFκB activation of RANK. Thus, therapeutic targeting of PLAD in the prevention of osteoporosis may not be as effective as proposed.

Read the full article at Das et al. (2014) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 53 81–91; DOI:10.1530/JME-14-0077