FERM, RhoGEF and pleckstrin domain-containing protein 1 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 ''FARP1''
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 ...
.
This gene was originally isolated through
subtractive hybridization
Subtractive hybridization is a technology that allows for PCR-based amplification of only cDNA
In genetics, complementary DNA (cDNA) is DNA synthesized from a single-stranded RNA (e.g., messenger RNA (mRNA) or microRNA (miRNA)) template ...
due to its increased expression in differentiated
chondrocytes
Chondrocytes (, from Greek χόνδρος, ''chondros'' = cartilage + κύτος, ''kytos'' = cell) are the only cells found in healthy cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and prote ...
versus dedifferentiated chondrocytes. The resulting protein contains a predicted
ezrin
Ezrin also known as cytovillin or villin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''EZR'' gene.
Structure
The N-terminus of ezrin contains a FERM domain which is further subdivided into three subdomains. The C-terminus contain an ERM ...
-like domain, a Dbl homology domain, and a
pleckstrin homology domain
Pleckstrin homology domain (PH domain) or (PHIP) is a protein domain of approximately 120 amino acids that occurs in a wide range of proteins involved in intracellular signaling or as constituents of the cytoskeleton.
This domain can bind phosp ...
. It is believed to be a member of the
band 4.1
Protein 4.1, also known as Beatty's Protein, is a protein associated with the cytoskeleton that in humans is encoded by the ''EPB41'' gene. Protein 4.1 is a major structural element of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton. It plays a key role i ...
superfamily whose members link the
cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a complex, dynamic network of interlinking protein filaments present in the cytoplasm of all cells, including those of bacteria and archaea. In eukaryotes, it extends from the cell nucleus to the cell membrane and is comp ...
to the
cell membrane
The cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane (PM) or cytoplasmic membrane, and historically referred to as the plasmalemma) is a biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of all cells from the outside environment (the ...
. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct
isoforms
A protein isoform, or "protein variant", is a member of a set of highly similar proteins that originate from a single gene or gene family and are the result of genetic differences. While many perform the same or similar biological roles, some iso ...
have been found for this gene.
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
*
{{gene-13-stub