THY1
Description
The THY1 (Thy-1 cell surface antigen) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
Thy-1, or CD90 (Cluster of Differentiation 90), is a 25–37 kDa heavily N-glycosylated, glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored conserved cell surface protein with a single V-like immunoglobulin domain. It was originally discovered as a thymocyte antigen and can be used as a marker for a variety of stem cells and for the axonal processes of mature neurons. Its structural study led to the foundation of the Immunoglobulin superfamily, of which it is the smallest member, and also provided initial biochemical descriptions and characterizations of a vertebrate GPI anchor and the first demonstration of tissue-specific differential glycosylation.
Thy-1 was the first T cell marker identified. Discovered in 1964, it was initially called theta (θ) antigen, then Thy-1 (THYmocyte differentiation antigen 1) due to its presence on thymocytes (precursors of T cells in the thymus). The human homolog was isolated in 1980 as a 25kDa protein (p25) from the T-lymphoblastoid cell line MOLT-3, binding with anti-monkey-thymocyte antisera. The discovery of Thy-1 in mice and humans led to the subsequent discovery of many other T cell markers, which is significant to immunology since T cells (along with B cells) are major components of the adaptive immune response.
Thy-1 has been conserved throughout vertebrate evolution and even in some invertebrates, with homologs described in many species like squid, frogs, chickens, mice, rats, dogs, and humans. The Thy-1 gene is located at human chromosome 11q22.3 (mouse chromosome 9qA5.1).
THY1 is also known as CD90, CDw90.
