HAPLN2 explained

Hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 2 (HAPLN2) also known as brain link protein 1 (BRAL1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HAPLN2 gene.^[1] HAPLN1 codes for a related link protein that is expressed in cartilage while Bral1 is expressed in brain.

Function

Bral1 interacts with versican and brevican in nodes of Ranvier. In mice with reduced Bralp1 expression the extracellular matrix at nodes of Ranvier is disrupted and action potential conduction is abnormal.^[2]

Further reading

• Spicer AP, Joo A, Bowling RA . A hyaluronan binding link protein gene family whose members are physically linked adjacent to chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein genes: the missing links . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 278 . 23 . 21083–91 . Jun 2003 . 12663660 . 10.1074/jbc.M213100200 . free .
• Kähler AK, Djurovic S, Rimol LM, Brown AA, Athanasiu L, Jönsson EG, Hansen T, Gústafsson O, Hall H, Giegling I, Muglia P, Cichon S, Rietschel M, Pietiläinen OP, Peltonen L, Bramon E, Collier D, St Clair D, Sigurdsson E, Petursson H, Rujescu D, Melle I, Werge T, Steen VM, Dale AM, Matthews RT, Agartz I, Andreassen OA . Candidate gene analysis of the human natural killer-1 carbohydrate pathway and perineuronal nets in schizophrenia: B3GAT2 is associated with disease risk and cortical surface area . Biological Psychiatry . 69 . 1 . 90–6 . Jan 2011 . 20950796 . 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.07.035 . 30133148 .
• Nomoto H, Oohashi T, Hirakawa S, Ueki Y, Ohtsuki H, Ninomiya Y . Human BRAL1 and BCAN genes that belong to the link-module superfamily are tandemly arranged on chromosome 1q21-23 . Acta Medica Okayama . 56 . 1 . 25–9 . Feb 2002 . 11873941 .
• Martins-de-Souza D, Gattaz WF, Schmitt A, Rewerts C, Marangoni S, Novello JC, Maccarrone G, Turck CW, Dias-Neto E . Alterations in oligodendrocyte proteins, calcium homeostasis and new potential markers in schizophrenia anterior temporal lobe are revealed by shotgun proteome analysis . Journal of Neural Transmission . 116 . 3 . 275–89 . Mar 2009 . 19034380 . 10.1007/s00702-008-0156-y . free .
• Oohashi T, Hirakawa S, Bekku Y, Rauch U, Zimmermann DR, Su WD, Ohtsuka A, Murakami T, Ninomiya Y . Bral1, a brain-specific link protein, colocalizing with the versican V2 isoform at the nodes of Ranvier in developing and adult mouse central nervous systems . Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences . 19 . 1 . 43–57 . Jan 2002 . 11817897 . 10.1006/mcne.2001.1061 . 23568217 .
• Hirakawa S, Oohashi T, Su WD, Yoshioka H, Murakami T, Arata J, Ninomiya Y . The brain link protein-1 (BRAL1): cDNA cloning, genomic structure, and characterization as a novel link protein expressed in adult brain . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications . 276 . 3 . 982–9 . Oct 2000 . 11027579 . 10.1006/bbrc.2000.3583 .
• Sim H, Hu B, Viapiano MS . Reduced expression of the hyaluronan and proteoglycan link proteins in malignant gliomas . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 284 . 39 . 26547–56 . Sep 2009 . 19633295 . 2785343 . 10.1074/jbc.M109.013185 . free .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Entrez Gene: hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 2.
2. Bekku Y, Vargová L, Goto Y, Vorísek I, Dmytrenko L, Narasaki M, Ohtsuka A, Fässler R, Ninomiya Y, Syková E, Oohashi T . Bral1: its role in diffusion barrier formation and conduction velocity in the CNS . The Journal of Neuroscience . 30 . 8 . 3113–23 . Feb 2010 . 20181608 . 6633924. 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5598-09.2010 .