Disease relevance of AJAP1

• While searching for potential candidate molecules relevant for the pathogenesis of endometriosis, we discovered a 2910-base pair cDNA encoding a novel putative 411-amino acid integral membrane protein that we called shrew-1 [1].
• In order to clarify the pathomechanism of acantholysis in Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) and Darier's disease (DD), the distribution of desmosomal and adherens junction-associated proteins was studied in the skin of patients with HHD (n = 4) and DD (n = 3) [2].
• To know the biological function of the adherens junction associated with histological dedifferentiation, intramuscular invasion, and clinical staging, we studied the expressions of E-cadherin and alpha- and beta-catenin mRNAs in endometrial cancers in comparison with those in normal uterine counterparts [3].
• The SHREW1 gene, frequently deleted in oligodendrogliomas, functions to inhibit cell adhesion and migration [4].

High impact information on AJAP1

• The Usher protein complex can also be linked to the cadherins/catenins in the adherens junction-associated protein complexes, suggesting a role in cell polarity and tissue organization [5].
• Spatial and temporal distribution of the adherens-junction-associated adhesion molecule A-CAM during avian embryogenesis [6].
• Targeting of transmembrane protein shrew-1 to adherens junctions is controlled by cytoplasmic sorting motifs [7].
• Novel membrane protein shrew-1 targets to cadherin-mediated junctions in polarized epithelial cells [1].
• The SHREW1 and KCNAB2 genes both had tissue-restricted expression patterns, including expression in the nervous system [8].

Biological context of AJAP1

• Expression of epitope-tagged shrew-1 in epithelial cells and analysis by surface biotinylation and immunoblots demonstrated that shrew-1 is indeed a transmembrane protein [1].
• Cisplatin also caused the early loss of cell-cell adhesions, which was associated with the altered localization of the adherens junction-associated protein beta-catenin in association with PKC-mediated phosphorylation of the actincapping protein adducin [9].
• We measured the enzymes of glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, beta-oxidation and electron transport in the heart, liver and skeletal muscle of the Northern Short-tailed Shrew, Blarina brevicauda [10].

Anatomical context of AJAP1

• Interestingly, shrew-1 was partially translocated in response to scatter factor (ligand of receptor tyrosine kinase c-met) from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasm where it still colocalized with endogenous E-cadherin [1].
• Adherens junction-associated E-cadherin and beta-catenin were at the cell periphery, excluding desmosomes [11].
• The epidermal growth factor (EGF) from the submaxillary glands of the Chinese Shrew (Suncus murinus) is purified to apparent homogeneity by using a sequence of four chromatographic steps, viz. gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, affinity chromatography on immobilized Ni, hydrophobic interaction on phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B and reverse-phase HPLC [12].

Other interactions of AJAP1

• TP73, DFFB and SHREW1 are the only known genes located in these deletion regions, while the others are uncharacterised novel genes [13].

References