Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8A 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 ''LRRC8A''

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 ...

. Researchers have found out that this protein, along with the other LRRC8 proteins LRRC8B, LRRC8C, LRRC8D, and LRRC8E, is a subunit of the heteromer protein

volume-regulated anion channel Volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) are crucial to the regulation of cell size by transporting chloride ions and various organic osmolytes, such as taurine or glutamate, across the plasma membrane, and that is not the only function these chann ...

(VRAC). (VRACs) are crucial to the regulation of cell size by transporting chloride ions and various organic osmolytes, such as taurine or glutamate, across the plasma membrane, and that is not the only function these channels have been linked to. While LRRC8A is one of many proteins that can be part of VRAC, it is the most important subunit for the channel’s ability to function. However, while we know it is necessary for VRAC function, other studies have found that it is not sufficient for the full range of usual VRAC activity. This is where the other LRRC8 proteins come in, as the different composition of these subunits affects the range of specificity for VRACs. The transmembrane portion of LRRC8 proteins are similar to those in Pannexins. LRRC8A alone can form a hexameric VRAC, for which the cyro-EM structure has been determined in its mice and human versions. In addition to its role in VRACs, the LRRC8 protein family is also associated with

agammaglobulinemia Hypogammaglobulinemia is a problem with the immune system in which not enough gamma globulins are produced in the blood (thus '' hypo-'' + ''gamma'' + '' globulin'' + '' -emia''). This results in a lower antibody count, which impairs the immune sy ...

-5.

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Further reading