TRIM gene family

Genes in the TRIM family provide instructions for making proteins that are involved in a variety of cellular functions. The majority of these genes play a role in the cell machinery that breaks down (degrades) unwanted proteins. Damaged, misfolded, and excess proteins are tagged with molecules called ubiquitin. Ubiquitin serves as a signal to move unwanted proteins into specialized cell structures known as proteasomes, where the ubiquitin-tagged proteins are degraded. The TRIM family's protein-degrading function is important for normal cell growth and division (cell proliferation), self-destruction of cells (apoptosis), cell maturity and specialization (differentiation), formation of tumors (oncogenesis), and immune functions. TRIM gene products are active throughout the body from embryonic development to adulthood.

The TRIM genes are also related through their structure. All TRIM genes provide instructions for making proteins that have three specific regions (motifs) in common. These regions are known as RING finger, B-box, and coiled coil motifs. The presence of these three regions gives the TRIM gene family its name, tripartite motif-containing. The three motifs work together to bind (attach) to unwanted proteins and tag them with ubiquitin.

Most of the TRIM genes are named numerically (such as TRIM10 and TRIM67). A few tripartite motif-containing genes that have known disease-causing mutations are named after the condition they cause (for example, mutations in the MEFV gene cause familial Mediterranean fever). Genes in the TRIM family can be found on most human chromosomes.