Dickkopf is a
German word meaning "stubborn person", or literally, "thick head". It was coined as the name for these proteins in a 1998 Nature paper by Glinka et al.[3] in reference to the discovery that
DKK1 induces head formation in the
embryogenesis of Xenopus.[4]
Structure
DKK proteins are
glycoproteins consisting of 255–350
amino acids. DKK1, DKK2, and DKK4 have similar
molecular weights, at 24–29 k
Da (kilodaltons). DKK3 is heaviest, at 38 kDa.[2] In addition to having similar weights, DKK1, -2, and -4 have high structural similarity, with two shared
cysteine-rich domains. DKK3 differs from -1, -2, and -4 by the presence of a Soggy domain at its
N-terminus.[5]
Proteins
Four DKK proteins and one DKK-like protein occur in humans and other vertebrates,[6] with five proteins in the family in total:[7]
DKK proteins are believed to be involved with several human diseases, including bone cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Evidence also indicates DKK1 and DKK3 are involved in the
pathophysiology of the
artery, where they could contribute to
atherosclerosis.[5]
Dickkopf is a
German word meaning "stubborn person", or literally, "thick head". It was coined as the name for these proteins in a 1998 Nature paper by Glinka et al.[3] in reference to the discovery that
DKK1 induces head formation in the
embryogenesis of Xenopus.[4]
Structure
DKK proteins are
glycoproteins consisting of 255–350
amino acids. DKK1, DKK2, and DKK4 have similar
molecular weights, at 24–29 k
Da (kilodaltons). DKK3 is heaviest, at 38 kDa.[2] In addition to having similar weights, DKK1, -2, and -4 have high structural similarity, with two shared
cysteine-rich domains. DKK3 differs from -1, -2, and -4 by the presence of a Soggy domain at its
N-terminus.[5]
Proteins
Four DKK proteins and one DKK-like protein occur in humans and other vertebrates,[6] with five proteins in the family in total:[7]
DKK proteins are believed to be involved with several human diseases, including bone cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Evidence also indicates DKK1 and DKK3 are involved in the
pathophysiology of the
artery, where they could contribute to
atherosclerosis.[5]