Anti-FLVCR antibody (ab26075)

Function

Heme transporter that exports cytoplasmic heme. It can also export coproporphyrin and protoporphyrin IX, which are both intermediate products in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Does not export bilirubin. Heme export depends on the presence of HPX and may be required to protect developing erythroid cells from heme toxicity. Heme export also provides protection from heme or ferrous iron toxicities in liver and brain. Causes susceptibility to FeLV-C in vitro.

Tissue specificity

Found all hematopoietic tissues including peripheral blood lymphocytes. Some expression is found in pancreas and kidney.

Involvement in disease

Defects in FLVCR1 are the cause of posterior column ataxia with retinitis pigmentosa (PCARP) [MIM:609033]. A neurodegenerative syndrome beginning in infancy with areflexia and retinitis pigmentosa. Nyctalopia (night blindness) and peripheral visual field loss are usually evident during late childhood or teenage years, with subsequent progressive constriction of the visual fields and loss of central retinal function over time. A sensory ataxia caused by degeneration of the posterior columns of the spinal cord results in a loss of proprioceptive sensation that is clinically evident in the second decade of life and gradually progresses. Scoliosis, camptodactyly, achalasia, gastrointestinal dysmotility, and a sensory peripheral neuropathy are variable features of the disease. Affected individuals have no clinical or radiological evidence of cerebral or cerebellar involvement. Note=Defective neuronal heme transmembrane export due to FLVCR1 mutations may abrogate the neuroprotective effects of neuroglobin and initiate an apoptotic cascade that results in the selective degeneration of photoreceptors in the neurosensory retina and sensory neurons in the posterior spinal cord.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the major facilitator superfamily. Feline leukemia virus subgroup C receptor (TC 2.A.1.28.1) family.

Developmental stage

Down-regulated in haemopoietic progenitor cells undergoing differentiation and hemoglobinization. Abundant in fetal liver.

Cellular localization

Cell membrane.

Alternative names

Database links