Background:
Ndfip1 is an adaptor protein for the Nedd4 family of ubiquitin ligases and has been found to be upregulated in neurons after brain injury, including head trauma, stroke and metal toxicity. Recent studies confirmed the role of Ndfip1 as a regulator of iron metabolism and pointed out that Ndfip1 was involved in iron homeostasis by regulating the degradation of iron importer divalent metal transporter 1. Ndfip1 is a transmembrane protein that is localized to the Golgi and post-Golgi vesicles such as endosomes. It is an adaptor protein that recruits E3 ligases to ubiquitinate target proteins. It is ubiquitously expressed and contains 2 PY motifs, which interact with several Nedd4 family E3s to degradate proteins.