The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored neuronal membrane protein that functions as a cell adhesion molecule. It may play a role in the formation of axon connections in the developing nervous system. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but the full-length nature of some of these variants has not been determined.[3]
The gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p26.3). It is a single copy gene within the Watson (plus) strand, 957,399 bases in length and encodes a protein of 1026 amino acids (molecular weight 113.454 kDa)
Clinical relevance
Abnormal expression of this gene has been implicated in some cases of autism.[4] It has also been associated with cerebellar degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 16.
References
↑Yoshihara Y, Kawasaki M, Tamada A, Nagata S, Kagamiyama H, Mori K (Mar 1996). "Overlapping and differential expression of BIG-2, BIG-1, TAG-1, and F3: four members of an axon-associated cell adhesion molecule subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily". J Neurobiol. 28 (1): 51–69. doi:10.1002/neu.480280106. PMID8586965.
↑Zeng L, Zhang C, Xu J, Ye X, Wu Q, Dai J, Ji C, Gu S, Xie Y, Mao Y (Aug 2002). "A novel splice variant of the cell adhesion molecule contactin 4 ( CNTN4) is mainly expressed in human brain". J Hum Genet. 47 (9): 497–9. doi:10.1007/s100380200073. PMID12202991.
Walsh FS, Doherty P (1992). "Glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored recognition molecules that function in axonal fasciculation, growth and guidance in the nervous system". Cell Biol. Int. Rep. 15 (11): 1151–66. doi:10.1016/0309-1651(91)90061-M. PMID1838307.
Ota T, Suzuki Y, Nishikawa T, et al. (2004). "Complete sequencing and characterization of 21,243 full-length human cDNAs". Nat. Genet. 36 (1): 40–5. doi:10.1038/ng1285. PMID14702039.
Hansford LM, Smith SA, Haber M, et al. (2004). "Cloning and characterization of the human neural cell adhesion molecule, CNTN4 (alias BIG-2)". Cytogenet. Genome Res. 101 (1): 17–23. doi:10.1159/000073412. PMID14571131.
Kamei Y, Takeda Y, Teramoto K, et al. (2001). "Human NB-2 of the contactin subgroup molecules: chromosomal localization of the gene (CNTN5) and distinct expression pattern from other subgroup members". Genomics. 69 (1): 113–9. doi:10.1006/geno.2000.6310. PMID11013081.
Mimmack ML, Saito H, Evans G, et al. (1997). "A novel splice variant of the cell adhesion molecule BIG-2 is expressed in the olfactory and vomeronasal neuroepithelia". Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 47 (1–2): 345–50. doi:10.1016/S0169-328X(97)00104-6. PMID9221934.