CKLF Like MARVEL Transmembrane Domain Containing Protein 2 (CMTM2)

CMTM2 belongs to the chemokine-like factor gene superfamily, a novel family that links the chemokine and the transmembrane 4 superfamilies of signaling molecules. The protein encoded by this gene may play an important role in testicular development.

The deduced 248-amino acid protein contains 4 transmembrane segments. CKLFSF2 shares closest similarity with CKLF, CKLFSF1, and CKLFSF7. Northern blot analysis detected a 1.07-kb transcript that was highly expressed in testis. No expression was detected in leukocytes and placenta. The mouse proteins share about 46% and 48% sequence similarity with CKLFSF2, respectively.