Endoglin is a type I membrane glycoprotein

Glycoprotein

Glycoproteins are proteins that contain oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to polypeptide side-chains. The carbohydrate is attached to the protein in a cotranslational or posttranslational modification. This process is known as glycosylation. In proteins that have segments extending...

 located on cell

Cell (biology)

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....

 surfaces and is part of the TGF beta

TGF beta

Transforming growth factor beta is a protein that controls proliferation, cellular differentiation, and other functions in most cells. It plays a role in immunity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Marfan syndrome, and Loeys–Dietz syndrome....

 receptor complex.

The protein consists of a homodimer

Protein dimer

In biochemistry, a dimer is a macromolecular complex formed by two, usually non-covalently bound, macromolecules like proteins or nucleic acids...

 of 180 kDA with disulfide

Disulfide

In chemistry, a disulfide usually refers to the structural unit composed of a linked pair of sulfur atoms. Disulfide usually refer to a chemical compound that contains a disulfide bond, such as diphenyl disulfide, C6H5S-SC6H5....

 links.

It has been found on endothelial cells, activated macrophage

Macrophage

Macrophages are cells produced by the differentiation of monocytes in tissues. Human macrophages are about in diameter. Monocytes and macrophages are phagocytes. Macrophages function in both non-specific defense as well as help initiate specific defense mechanisms of vertebrate animals...

s, fibroblast

Fibroblast

A fibroblast is a type of cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, the structural framework for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing...

s, and smooth muscle cells.

Endoglin has been found to be part of the TGF-beta1 receptor complex. It thus may be involved in the binding of TGF-beta1

TGF beta 1

Transforming growth factor beta 1 or TGF-β1 is a polypeptide member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of cytokines. It is a secreted protein that performs many cellular functions, including the control of cell growth, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and apoptosis...

, TGF-beta3

TGF beta 3

Transforming growth factor beta 3 is a type of protein, known as a cytokine, which is involved in cell differentiation, embryogenesis and development...

, activin-A, BMP-2

Bone morphogenetic protein 2

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 or BMP-2 belongs to the TGF-β superfamily of proteins.-Function:BMP-2 like other bone morphogenetic proteins, plays an important role in the development of bone and cartilage. It is involved in the hedgehog pathway, TGF beta signaling pathway, and in cytokine-cytokine...

, and BMP-7. Beside TGF-beta signaling

TGF beta signaling pathway

The Transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway is involved in many cellular processes in both the adult organism and the developing embryo including cell growth, cell differentiation, apoptosis, cellular homeostasis and other cellular functions. In spite of the wide range of cellular...

 endoglin may have other functions. It has been postulated that endoglin is involved in the cytoskeletal organization affecting cell morphology and migration.
Endoglin has a role in the development of the cardiovascular system and in vascular remodeling. Its expression is regulated during heart development . Experimental mice without the endoglin gene die due to cardiovascular abnormalities.

In humans endoglin may be involved in the autosomal dominant disorder known as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia , also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease and Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is a genetic disorder that leads to abnormal blood vessel formation in the skin, mucous membranes, and often in organs such as the lungs, liver and brain.It may lead to nosebleeds, acute...

 type 1. This condition leads to frequent nose bleeds, telangiectases on skin and mucosa and may cause arteriovenous malformations in different organs including brain, lung, and liver.

Endoglin levels have been found to be elevated in pregnant women who subsequently develop preeclampsia.

Interactions

Endoglin has been shown to interact

Protein-protein interaction

Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...

 with TGF beta receptor 2

TGF beta receptor 2

Transforming growth factor, beta receptor II is a TGF beta receptor. TGFBR2 is its human gene.It is a tumor suppressor gene.-Interactions:...

 and TGF beta receptor 1

TGF beta receptor 1

Transforming growth factor, beta receptor I is a TGF beta receptor. TGFBR1 is its human gene.-Interactions:...

.

External links