CD79 is a heterodimeric molecule comprising two polypeptide chains, B29 (CD79b) and mb-1 (CD79a). It is physically linked in the surface of B cells to membrane immunoglobulin, forming the B cell antigen receptor complex. Expression of the mb-1 (CD79a) chain has been studied in leukaemias and shown to be present in most B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALL). CD79a and CD79b expression precedes immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy-chain gene rearrangement and CD20 expression during B-cell ontogeny and disappears later than CD20 in the late (plasma cell) stage of B-cell differentiation. Study highlights that CD79A and CD79B are required for surface IgM expression in human B cells. Diseases associated with CD79A/CD79B include Agammaglobulinemia 3, Autosomal Recessive and Agammaglobulinemia 3.
BCR protein with a unique structure having two opposing regulatory activities toward small GTP-binding proteins. The C-terminus is a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain which stimulates GTP hydrolysis by RAC1, RAC2 and CDC42. Accelerates the intrinsic rate of GTP hydrolysis of RAC1 or CDC42, leading to down-regulation of the active GTP-bound form. The central Dbl homology (DH) domain functions as guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that modulates the GTPases CDC42, RHOA and RAC1. Promotes the conversion of CDC42, RHOA and RAC1 from the GDP-bound to the GTP-bound form. The amino terminus contains an intrinsic kinase activity. Functions as an important negative regulator of neuronal RAC1 activity. Regulates macrophage functions such as CSF1-directed motility and phagocytosis through the modulation of RAC1 activity. Plays a major role as a RHOA GEF in keratinocytes being involved in focal adhesion formation and keratinocyte differentiation.