HMGB1 (high mobility group box 1) is a DNA binding protein. HMGB1 contains 216 amino acids consisting of three structural domains, termed “A box (9-85)”, “B box (88-162)”, and a negatively charged carboxyl terminus (186-216).
Once cells are damaged, the cellular components are released by losing cell structures. During the processes, released HMGB1 works as inflammatory cytokine which binds to toll like receptor 2 and 4, resulting in initiating inflammatory cascade as same as Lipopolysaccharides. Cells receiving necrosis release HMGB1 however apoptotic cells do not release HMGB1.
It can be called alamin. Once another function of HMGB1, it was found that serum HMGB1 levels work as a prognosis marker in sepsis patients(1).
HMGB1 can be purified from bovine thymus. Since HMGB1 will not be precipitate at 50%
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA), staying in supernatant. Therefore, it is easy to be purified.