Neuronal Growth Regulator 1 (NEGR1)

The deduced 348-amino acid protein has an N-terminal signal sequence, 3 immunoglobulin (Ig)-like C2 domains, 6 putative glycosylation sites, and a putative C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring signal. It also has 3 sets of cysteines that are likely to form intradomain disulfide linkages in each of its Ig-like domains, which is a characteristic of IgLON family proteins. Western blot analysis detected Kilon at an apparent molecular mass of 46 kD in adult cerebrum, brainstem, and hippocampus, with much lower expression in cerebellum. In adult rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus, Kilon was predominantly expressed in the large pyramidal neurons. In cerebellum, Kilon was expressed in Purkinje cell dendrites and soma. Embryonic rat showed much lower Kilon expression.