High impact information on Aspn

• The name asporin reflects the aspartate-rich amino terminus and the overall similarity to decorin [1].
• Expression pattern and gene characterization of asporin. a newly discovered member of the leucine-rich repeat protein family [2].
• The asporin mRNA is expressed in a variety of human tissues with higher levels in osteoarthritic articular cartilage, aorta, uterus, heart, and liver [1].
• The deduced amino acid sequence of asporin was confirmed by mass spectrometry of the isolated protein resulting in 84% sequence coverage [1].
• The 8 exons of the human asporin gene span 26 kilobases on chromosome 9q31.1-32, and the putative promoter region lacks TATA consensus sequences [1].

Biological context of Aspn

• During mouse embryonic development, asporin mRNA expression was detected primarily in the skeleton and other specialized connective tissues; very little asporin message was detected in the major parenchymal organs [2].

Associations of Aspn with chemical compounds

• Instead, asporin contains a unique stretch of aspartic acid residues in its amino-terminal region [1].
• However, asporin does not contain a serine/glycine dipeptide sequence required for the assembly of O-linked glycosaminoglycans and is probably not a proteoglycan [2].

References