Fractalkine, also known as chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1, is a
protein that in humans is encoded by the CX3CL1
gene.
Function
Fractalkine is a large
cytokine protein of 373 amino acids, it contains multiple domains and is the only known member of the CX3C
chemokine family. It is also commonly known under the names fractalkine (in humans) and neurotactin (in mice).[5][6] The polypeptide structure of CX3CL1 differs from the typical structure of other chemokines. For example, the spacing of the characteristic
N-terminalcysteines differs; there are three
amino acids separating the initial pair of cysteines in CX3CL1, with none in
CC chemokines and only one intervening amino acid in
CXC chemokines. CX3CL1 is produced as a long protein (with 373-amino acid in humans) with an extended
mucin-like stalk and a chemokine domain on top. The mucin-like stalk permits it to bind to the surface of certain cells. However a soluble (90 kD) version of this chemokine has also been observed. Soluble CX3CL1 potently chemoattracts
T cells and
monocytes, while the cell-bound chemokine promotes strong adhesion of leukocytes to activated endothelial cells, where it is primarily expressed.[6] CX3CL1 elicits its adhesive and migratory functions by interacting with the chemokine receptor
CX3CR1.[7] Its gene is located on human
chromosome 16 along with some CC chemokines known as
CCL17 and
CCL22.[6][8]
Fractalkine is found commonly throughout the brain, particularly in neural cells, and its receptor is known to be present on microglial cells. It has also been found to be essential for microglial cell migration.[9] CX3CL1 is also up-regulated in the
hippocampus during a brief temporal window following
spatial learning, the purpose of which may be to regulate glutamate-mediated neurotransmission tone. This indicates a possible role for the chemokine in the protective plasticity process of
synaptic scaling.[10]
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