Podocin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Podocin is a protein component of the filtration slits of podocytes. Glomerular capillary endothelial cells, the glomerular basement membrane and the filtration slits function as the filtration barrier of the kidney glomerulus.[1] Mutations in the podocin gene NPHS2 can cause nephrotic syndrome, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or minimal change disease (MCD).[2] Symptoms may develop in the first few months of life (congenital nephrotic syndrome) or later in childhood.[3]
Structure
Podocin is a membrane protein of the band-7-stomatin family, consisting of 383 amino acids. It has a transmembrane domain forming a hairpin structure, with two cytoplasmic ends at the N- and C-terminus, the latter of which interacts with the cytosolic tail of nephrin, with CD2AP serving as an adaptor. [4]
Function
Podocin is localized on the membranes of podocyte foot processes (pedicels) where it oligomerizes in lipid rafts together with nephrin to form the filtration slits.[4][5]