Kremen protein 1 is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''KREMEN1''
gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
.
''Kremen1'' is conserved in chordates including amphioxus and most vertebrate species.
The protein is a type I transmembrane receptor of ligands Dickkopf1, Dickkopf2, Dickkopf3, Dickkopf4, EpCAM and Rspondin1.
Function
This gene encodes a high-affinity dickkopf homolog 1 (DKK1) transmembrane receptor that functionally cooperates with DKK1 to block wingless (WNT)/beta-catenin signaling. The encoded protein is a component of a membrane complex that modulates canonical WNT signaling through lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6). It contains extracellular
Kringle
Kringle (, ) is a Northern European pastry, a variety of pretzel. Pretzels were introduced by Roman Catholic monks in the 13th century in Denmark, and from there they spread throughout Scandinavia and evolved into several kinds of sweet, salty o ...
, WSC, and
CUB domains. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been observed for this gene.
Kremen1 also has a function in the induction of cell death by apoptosis.
This proapototic activity is conditional and depends on the absence of ligand Dickkopf1.
These observations led to the classification of this protein as a
Dependence Receptor.
A mouse knock out of Kremen1 and its paralog
Kremen2 is viable and fertile.
References
Further reading
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