Recombinant Human Membrane-associated progesterone receptor component 2 (PGRMC2)

Introduction to Recombinant Human PGRMC2

Recombinant Human PGRMC2 (Membrane-Associated Progesterone Receptor Component 2) is a synthetic version of the endogenous PGRMC2 protein, produced via heterologous expression systems such as HEK293T cells, wheat germ, or baculovirus-infected insect cells . This recombinant protein retains the functional domains of its native counterpart, including a cytochrome b5-like heme-binding domain and a transmembrane region critical for progesterone signaling . PGRMC2 is part of the MAPR (membrane-associated progesterone receptor) family and plays roles in steroid signaling, heme metabolism, and cellular homeostasis .

Recombinant PGRMC2 Production and Applications

Recombinant PGRMC2 is engineered for research purposes, including:

Applications:

• Cell signaling studies: Progesterone-dependent sperm acrosome reaction and adipocyte function .

• Cancer research: Inhibition of ovarian cancer cell migration and potential metastasis suppression .

• Antibody validation: Used as a control fragment for immunogen blocking experiments .

Biological Functions and Pathways

PGRMC2 interacts with multiple pathways and processes:

Heme and Steroid Signaling

• Heme chaperone: Delivers labile heme to nuclear transcription factors, modulating lipid metabolism and oxidative stress responses .

• Progesterone signaling: Acts as a non-classical progesterone receptor, influencing uterine development and neuroprotection .

Metabolic Regulation

• Adipose tissue: Regulates glucose homeostasis in brown fat via NR1D1/BACH1 repression .

• Ovarian function: Linked to ovarian reserve status and endometriosis pathogenesis .

Disease Associations

• Reproductive disorders: Achalasia-Addisonianism-Alacrima Syndrome and endometriosis .

• Cancer: Overexpression in ovarian tumors and metastasis suppression in endocervical adenocarcinomas .

Reproductive and Neurological Roles

• Uterine histoarchitecture: Maintains endometrial structure during the secretory phase .

• Neuroprotection: Progesterone-PGRMC2 signaling suppresses GnRH neuronal activity via calcium oscillation inhibition .

Metabolic and Immune Functions

• Glucose regulation: In brown fat, heme delivery by PGRMC2 modulates circadian rhythm genes .

• Immune homeostasis: Co-regulates maternal-fetal immune interactions with HLA-G .

Challenges and Future Directions

While recombinant PGRMC2 has advanced functional studies, limitations include:

• Partial structural data: Full-length recombinant proteins are rare (e.g., Abcam’s 1-223 aa construct) .

• Tissue-specific effects: Conflicting roles in cancer (migration inhibition vs. survival promotion) require further elucidation .

• Therapeutic potential: Targeting PGRMC2 for endometriosis or metabolic disorders remains unexplored .