Kirrel3
Developmental stage
At embryonic day 11.5, it is expressed in the differentiating zones of various regions, such as the caudate-putamen, the geniculate body, the thalamus, the amygdala and the brainstem. This expression persists in the adult, although expression is lower. After birth, highly expressed in the glomerular and mitral layers of the olfactory bulb, the cortical plate of the neocortex, the cochlear nucleus, and the molecular and granule cell layers of the cerebellum. In the hippocampus, expression is first observed in the dentate gyrus at postnatal day 7.
Function
Synaptic adhesion molecule required for the formation of target-specific synapses (PubMed:23637329, PubMed:26575286). Required for formation of target-specific synapses at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses. Required for formation of mossy fiber filopodia, the synaptic structures connecting dentate granule and GABA neurons. Probably acts as a homophilic adhesion molecule that promotes trans-cellular interactions and stabilize mossy fiber filipodia contact and subsequent synapse formation (PubMed:26575286). Required for the coalescence of vomeronasal sensory neuron axons (PubMed:23637329). May be involved in the hematopoietic supportive capacity of stroma cells; the secreted extracellular domain is directly responsible for supporting hematopoietic stem cells (PubMed:12665856).
Post-translational modifications
Undergoes proteolysis by a metalloprotease and gives rise to a soluble form.
Sequence Similarities
Belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily.
Tissue Specificity
Expressed mainly in adult brain, bone marrow and stromal cells (PubMed:12665856). Expressed in diverse regions of the brain, including the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, olfactory bulb and cerebellum (PubMed:15908127, PubMed:26283919). In brain, expressed in pontine nucleus neurons (at protein level) (PubMed:21241806). In hippocampus, produced in both the dentate granule neurons and the GABAergic neurons, but not the CA3 neurons (PubMed:26575286). Expressed in subpopulations of vomeronasal sensory neurons (PubMed:23637329). Expressed in a subset of neurons in dorsal root ganglia (PubMed:18752272).
Cellular localization
- Cell membrane
- Single-pass type I membrane protein
- Cell projection
- Axon
- Cell projection
- Dendrite
- Processed kin of IRRE-like protein 3
- Secreted
Alternative names
Kiaa1867, Neph2, Kirrel3, Kin of IRRE-like protein 3, Kin of irregular chiasm-like protein 3, Nephrin-like protein 2, mKirre