PCDHA1
Description
The PCDHA1 (protocadherin alpha 1) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 5.
PCDHA1 is a gene that encodes the protein Protocadherin alpha-1. It's part of a large group of genes called the protocadherin alpha gene cluster, located on chromosome five. This cluster contains 15 genes, most of which are very similar to each other. The genes in this cluster share a unique structure: they have a series of variable regions (N-terminal exons) that encode the protein's outer part, and a shared constant region (C-terminal exons) that encodes the protein's inner part. The protein encoded by PCDHA1 is likely involved in cell-to-cell connections in the brain. It has a special part called a cadherin domain that helps it stick to other cells. It's thought to be important for forming and maintaining the connections between neurons, the cells that transmit signals in the brain. Different versions of the PCDHA1 protein can be made due to alternative splicing, but their exact structure and function are still being studied.
PCDHA1 is also known as PCDH-ALPHA1.
