Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κ B (
RANK), also known as TRANCE Receptor or TNFRSF11A, is member of the
tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) molecular sub-family. RANK is the receptor for RANK-Ligand (RANKL) and part of the RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway that regulates osteoclast differentiation and activation. It is associated with bone remodeling and repair, immune cell function, lymph node development, thermal regulation, and mammary gland development.
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy receptor for RANK, and regulates the stimulation of the RANK signaling pathway by competing for RANKL. The cytoplasmic domain of RANK binds
TRAFs 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 which transmit signals to downstream targets such as
NF-κB and
JNK.