RELM alpha

RELMα belongs to a unique family of tissue-specific cytokines termed FIZZ (found in inflammatory zone) and RELM. The three known members of this family; Resistin, RELMα and RELMβ are 85-94 amino acid secreted proteins sharing a conserved C-terminal domain characterized by 10 cysteine residues with a unique spacing motif of C-X11-C-X8-C-X-C-X3-C-X10-C-X-C-X-C-X9-C-C. RELMα and Resistin are secreted exclusively by adipocytes while RELMβ is expressed in the epithelium of the colon and small bowel. The physiological role and molecular targets of RELMα re still unknown. Recombinant murine RELMα is a 10.0 kDa monomeric protein containing 88 amino acid residues.