Description
Product Characteristics:
Two highly conserved complexes are responsible for the assembly of tight junctions, the Crumbs-Pals1-Patj complex and the Cdc42-Par6-Par3-aPKC complex. Tight junctions assist in the formation of polarity in the epithelia by establishing a barrier to separate apical and basolateral membranes. Pals1, importantly, mediates interaction between the two complexes via interaction with Par6. Loss of Pals1 function results in delayed polarization, decreased transepithelial electrical resistance and an inability to form lumenal cysts. Because tumors exhibit perturbations in epithelial polarity, Pals1 presents a new potential target in the study of carcinogenesis.
Subcellular location: Cytoplasm, Cell membrane
Synonyms: FLJ12615, MAGUK p55 subfamily member 5, Membrane protein palmitoylated 5, MPP 5, MPP5, MPP5_HUMAN, PALS 1, PALS1, Protein associated with Lin-7, Stardust Drosophila, Stardust.
Target Information: This gene encodes a member of the p55-like subfamily of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) gene superfamily. The encoded protein participates in the polarization of differentiating cells, has been shown to regulate myelinating Schwann cells (PMID: 20237282), and is one of the components of the Crumbs complex in the retina. Mice which express lower levels of the orthologous protein have retinal degeneration and impaired vision (PMID: 22114289). Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2012]