Astrotactin 2 (ASTN2)

ASTN2 encodes a protein that is expressed in the brain and may function in neuronal migration, based on functional studies of the related astrotactin 1 gene in human and mouse. A deletion at this locus has been associated with schizophrenia. Multiple transcript variants encoding different proteins have been found for this locus.

By sequencing clones obtained from a size-fractionated human brain cDNA library, Ishikawa et al. (1998) cloned ASTN2, which they designated KIAA0634. The deduced 1,321-amino acid protein shares a high degree of similarity with mouse astrotactin (ASTN1). RT-PCR detected ASTN2 in all tissues examined, with highest expression in brain, kidney, and testis, followed by ovary.ASTN2 gene maps to chromosome 9q33.1.