6Ckine
6Ckine, encoded by the CCL21 gene, is a secreted CC chemokine that stimulates chemotaxis and inhibits hemopoiesis. It is also known as SLC, exodus-2, TCA4, CKb9, ECL and SCYA21, and is linked to lymphocyte homing to secondary lymphoid organs. Browse Assay Genie's current range of 6Ckine research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
6Ckine (C-C motif chemokine ligand 21) is a secreted signalling protein that stimulates chemotaxis and inhibits hemopoiesis. In vitro it attracts thymocytes and activated T-cells, but not B-cells, macrophages or neutrophils, and it shows preferential activity towards naive T-cells. It may play a role in mediating the homing of lymphocytes to secondary lymphoid organs.
6Ckine acts through several receptors. It is a high-affinity functional ligand for the chemokine receptor CCR7, which is expressed on T and B lymphocytes. It also binds the atypical chemokine receptor ACKR4, where it mediates recruitment of beta-arrestin (ARRB1/2), and it binds the G protein-coupled receptor GPR174. It does not bind CXCR3. The source annotation also notes that it is a known receptor ligand partner for another cytokine family member, small inducible cytokine A19.
The CCL21 gene is one of several CC cytokine genes clustered on the p-arm of chromosome 9. The CC cytokines are characterised by two adjacent cysteines, and the protein belongs to the intercrine beta (chemokine CC) family. Cytokines of this kind are secreted proteins involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes, and NCBI describes this gene as antimicrobial. Earlier names include small inducible cytokine subfamily A (Cys-Cys), member 21, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21. Researchers studying 6Ckine often look at CCR7 signalling, ACKR4 function and T-cell trafficking.
6Ckine is chemotactic for thymocytes and activated T-cells and shows preferential activity towards naive T-cells, making it relevant to T-cell trafficking.
The protein may mediate homing of lymphocytes to secondary lymphoid organs, a process central to immune surveillance.
6Ckine binds CCR7, ACKR4 and GPR174, and drives beta-arrestin recruitment to ACKR4, so it is used to examine receptor-ligand pairing.
Like other chemokines, 6Ckine inhibits hemopoiesis, giving a route into how chemokines shape blood cell development.
6Ckine is a secreted CC chemokine that stimulates chemotaxis and inhibits hemopoiesis. In vitro it attracts thymocytes and activated T-cells, but not B-cells, macrophages or neutrophils, and it favours naive T-cells. It may help direct lymphocyte homing to secondary lymphoid organs.
The official gene symbol is CCL21, and the protein is C-C motif chemokine 21. Aliases include SLC, exodus-2, TCA4, CKb9, ECL and SCYA21. Older names are small inducible cytokine subfamily A (Cys-Cys), member 21, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21.
6Ckine binds the chemokine receptor CCR7 with high affinity, the atypical receptor ACKR4 and the G protein-coupled receptor GPR174. It does not bind CXCR3. Binding to ACKR4 mediates beta-arrestin recruitment. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other CC chemokine ligands that share the intercrine beta family fold and function in immune cell signalling.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O00585; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.