The CCM2 gene contains 10 coding
exon
An exon is any part of a gene that will form a part of the final mature RNA produced by that gene after introns have been removed by RNA splicing. The term ''exon'' refers to both the DNA sequence within a gene and to the corresponding sequenc ...
s and an alternatively spliced
exon
An exon is any part of a gene that will form a part of the final mature RNA produced by that gene after introns have been removed by RNA splicing. The term ''exon'' refers to both the DNA sequence within a gene and to the corresponding sequenc ...
1B. This gene is located on chromosome 7p13 and loss of function mutations on ''CCM2'' lead to the onset of
Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM) illness. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular malformations in the brain and spinal cord made of dilated capillary vessels.
Protein
Malcavernin is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respon ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''CCM2''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
The normal function of malcavernin is to act as a scaffold for a variety of signaling complexes including p38 MAP Kinase. This protein is also involved in regulating the cellular localization of the KRIT1 protein and acts with the Rho Kinase signaling pathway to maintain normal blood vessel structure.
Advocacy
For more information and support for Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Patients and their families, please visit the Angioma Alliance website
www.angioma.org
References
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