Embigin (EMB)

Embigin is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. The encoded protein may be involved in cell growth and development by mediating interactions between the cell and extracellular matrix. A pseudogene of this gene is found on chromosome 1. Embigin is also expressed in a variety of adult tissues including heart, liver, lung, and brain Zoo-blot analysis with the rat embigin cDNA indicates that embigin homologs exist in species as diverse as Homo sapiens and Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that it has been highly conserved during evolution. Embigin protein is expressed at readily detectable levels in a variety of prostate and mammary cancer cell lines, and in some cell lines the expression of embigin appears to be down-regulated in the presence of ECM.