Prion Protein 2, Dublet (PRND)

PRND is found on chromosome 20, approximately 20 kbp downstream of the gene encoding cellular prion protein, to which it is biochemically and structurally similar. The proteinis a membrane glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein that is found predominantly in testis. Mutations in this gene may lead to neurological disorders. The mouse and human PRND genes encode a 179-amino acid prion protein (PrP)-like protein designated 'doppel' (Dpl), to denote alternately the German for 'double' and an acronym for 'downstream prion-like.' The PRND gene generates major transcripts of 1.7 and 2.7 kb as well as some unusual chimeric transcripts generated by intergenic splicing with Prnp. Like PrP, Dpl is expressed during embryogenesis, but in contrast to PrP, it is expressed minimally in the central nervous system.