Butyrophilin Explained

Butyrophilin, subfamily 1, member A1
Symbol:BTN1A1
Entrezgene:696
Hgncid:1135
Refseq:NP_001723
Uniprot:Q13410
Chromosome:6
Arm:p
Band:22.2
Butyrophilin, subfamily 2, member A2
Symbol:BTN2A2
Entrezgene:10385
Hgncid:1137
Refseq:NP_008926
Uniprot:Q8WVV5
Chromosome:6
Arm:p
Band:22.2
Butyrophilin, subfamily 3, member A1
Symbol:BTN3A1
Entrezgene:11119
Hgncid:1138
Refseq:NP_008979
Uniprot:O00481
Chromosome:6
Arm:p
Band:22.2

Butyrophilins are membrane proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ig).[1] [2] Butyrophilin (Btn) genes constitute a subgroup of at least 10 genes in the Ig superfamily identified in human, mouse, cow, goat and other species.[3]

The eponymous Btn gene (BTN1A1 in humans; Btn1a1 in mouse) is highly expressed in the secretory epithelium of the mammary gland during lactation. Other homologues are predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle and the intestine and erythroid cells. In contrast, BTN2A1 and 2 and BTN3A1, 2, and 3 are widely expressed in many tissues, suggesting that the structural domains of Btn proteins may have both universal and tissue-specific functions.

Types include:

Notes and References

  1. Mather IH, Jack LJ . A review of the molecular and cellular biology of butyrophilin, the major protein of bovine milk fat globule membrane . Journal of Dairy Science . 76 . 12 . 3832–50 . 1993 . 8132890 . 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(93)77726-7 . free .
  2. Afrache H, Gouret P, Ainouche S, Pontarotti P, Olive D . The butyrophilin (BTN) gene family: from milk fat to the regulation of the immune response . Immunogenetics . 64 . 11 . 781–94 . 2012 . 23000944 . 10.1007/s00251-012-0619-z . 13220808 .
  3. Ogg SL, Weldon AK, Dobbie L, Smith AJ, Mather IH . Expression of butyrophilin (Btn1a1) in lactating mammary gland is essential for the regulated secretion of milk-lipid droplets . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 101 . 27 . 10084–9 . 2004 . 15226505 . 454168 . 10.1073/pnas.0402930101 . 2004PNAS..10110084O . free .