Cubilin is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''CUBN''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
.
Function
Cubilin (CUBN) acts as a receptor for intrinsic factor-vitamin B
12 complexes. The role of receptor is supported by the presence of 27 CUB domains. Cubilin shows a restricted mode of expression according to protein profiling and transcriptomics analyses, and is essentially only present in the kidneys and small intestine. Mutations in CUBN may play a role in
autosomal recessive megaloblastic anemia.
A complex of
amnionless
Amnionless is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''AMN'' gene.
Function
A complex of amnionless and cubilin forms the cubam receptor.
The protein encoded by this gene is a type I transmembrane protein. It is thought to modulate bone ...
and cubilin forms the
cubam
Cubam, is the term used to refer to a multi-ligand receptor located in the terminal ileum, specializing in absorption of vitamin B12. Cubam is essentially composed of amnionless (AMN), and cubilin. Cubilin is essential as a cell receptor recogni ...
receptor.
Clinical significance
Cubilin is a potential
diagnostic
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine " cause and effect". In systems engine ...
and
prognostic
Prognosis (Greek: πρόγνωσις "fore-knowing, foreseeing") is a medical term for predicting the likely or expected development of a disease, including whether the signs and symptoms will improve or worsen (and how quickly) or remain stable ...
cancer biomarker
A cancer biomarker refers to a substance or process that is indicative of the presence of cancer in the body. A biomarker may be a molecule secreted by a tumor or a specific response of the body to the presence of cancer. Genetic, epigenetic, pr ...
for kidney cancer. Based on patient survival data, high levels of cubilin in tumor cells is a favourable
prognostic biomarker in
renal cell carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, a part of the very small tubes in the kidney that transport primary urine. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, resp ...
.
References
Further reading
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External links
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