Recombinant Human Podocalyxin protein (PODXL), partial

Function

Involved in the regulation of both adhesion and cell morphology and cancer progression. Functions as an anti-adhesive molecule that maintains an open filtration pathway between neighboring foot processes in the podocyte by charge repulsion. Acts as a pro-adhesive molecule, enhancing the adherence of cells to immobilized ligands, increasing the rate of migration and cell-cell contacts in an integrin-dependent manner. Induces the formation of apical actin-dependent microvilli. Involved in the formation of a preapical plasma membrane subdomain to set up initial epithelial polarization and the apical lumen formation during renal tubulogenesis. Plays a role in cancer development and aggressiveness by inducing cell migration and invasion through its interaction with the actin-binding protein EZR. Affects EZR-dependent signaling events, leading to increased activities of the MAPK and PI3K pathways in cancer cells

Subcellular Location

Apical cell membrane; Cell projection, lamellipodium; Cell projection, filopodium; Cell projection, ruffle; Cell projection, microvillus; Membrane raft; Membrane (Single-pass type I membrane protein)

Tissue Specificity

Glomerular epithelium cell (podocyte)

Subunit

Monomer; when associated with the membrane raft. Oligomer; when integrated in the apical membrane. Interacts (via the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif DTHL) with NHERF1 (via the PDZ domains); the interaction is not detected in glomerular epithelium cells, take place early in the secretory pathway and is necessary for its apical membrane sorting. Found in a complex with EZR, PODXL and NHERF2. Associates with the actin cytoskeleton through complex formation with EZR and NHERF2. Interacts (via the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif DTHL) with NHERF2 (via the PDZ 1 domain); interaction is detected in glomerular epithelium cells (By similarity). Interacts with EZR

• Kershaw D.B. et al. Molecular cloning and characterization of human podocalyxin-like protein. Orthologous relationship to rabbit PCLP1 and rat podocalyxin. — J. Biol. Chem. (1997)
• Totoki Y. et al. PubMed: CI-58UKVFP8TE70J (APR-)
• Hillier L.W. et al. The DNA sequence of human chromosome 7. — Nature (2003)
• Scherer S.W. et al. Human chromosome 7: DNA sequence and biology. — Science (2003)
• Mural R.J. et al. PubMed: CI-5GBDQ6B103N1E (JUL-)
• The status, quality, and expansion of the NIH full-length cDNA project: the Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC). — Genome Res. (2004)
• Suzuki Y. et al. PubMed: CI-667IGN9TRAPBQ (MAY-)
• Schopperle W.M. et al. Human embryonal carcinoma tumor antigen, Gp200/GCTM-2, is podocalyxin. — Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2003)