EGF-like domains with a C-x-D-x(4)-Y-x-C motif

The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain is one of most common domains found in extracellular proteins and many proteins contain multiple EGF-like domains in tandem.Variations in the amino acid sequences of EGF-like domains make their study difficult and the characteristics of EGF-like domains are poorly understood.This mini-review introduces a putative subfamily of EGF-like domains with the consensus amino acid sequence C-x-D-x(4)-Y-x-C.This type of EGF-like domain in Del-1 and vitamin-K dependent coagulation factors has several features in common, such as increasing the efficiency of endocytosis-dependent transfection, attenuating cell adhesion, and inducing apoptosis.This motif is also found in other clinically important proteins such as Notchs, Notch ligands, and low-density lipoprotein receptor.Finally, translational research on this motif is discussed.