LYNX1

Ly6/neurotoxin 1 is a protein in humans that is encoded by the LYNX1 gene.^[5] Alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been identified.

LYNX1
Available structures PDB Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB List of PDB id codes 2L03
Identifiers
Aliases	LYNX1, SLURP2, Ly6/neurotoxin 1
External IDs	OMIM: 606110; MGI: 1345180; HomoloGene: 8026; GeneCards: LYNX1; OMA:LYNX1 - orthologs
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 8 (human)[1] Band 8q24.3 Start 142,771,197 bp[1] End 142,777,810 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 15 (mouse)[2] Band 15|15 D3 Start 74,619,701 bp[2] End 74,624,895 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in apex of heart right frontal lobe prefrontal cortex Brodmann area 9 cingulate gyrus anterior cingulate cortex lateral nuclear group of thalamus left ventricle right hemisphere of cerebellum amygdala Top expressed in interventricular septum dentate gyrus of hippocampal formation granule cell pontine nuclei visual cortex primary visual cortex superior frontal gyrus lateral geniculate nucleus cerebellar cortex medial geniculate nucleus medial vestibular nucleus More reference expression data BioGPS n/a
Gene ontology Molecular function acetylcholine receptor inhibitor activity ion channel inhibitor activity acetylcholine receptor regulator activity acetylcholine receptor binding Cellular component extracellular region anchored component of membrane plasma membrane dendrite cell projection extracellular exosome membrane extracellular space endoplasmic reticulum Biological process negative regulation of signaling receptor activity synaptic transmission, cholinergic regulation of molecular function acetylcholine receptor signaling pathway regulation of neurotransmitter receptor activity Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 66004 23936 Ensembl ENSG00000180155 ENSMUSG00000022594 UniProt P0DP57 P0DP58 P0DP60 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_177457 NM_177476 NM_177477 NM_001356370 NM_011838 RefSeq (protein) NP_803253 NP_001343301 NP_076435 NP_001343299 NP_803252 NP_803429 NP_803430 NP_035968 Location (UCSC) Chr 8: 142.77 – 142.78 Mb Chr 15: 74.62 – 74.62 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
View/Edit Human View/Edit Mouse

Function

This gene encodes a member of the Ly-6/neurotoxin gene family, a group of lymphocyte antigens that attach to the cell surface by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor and have a unique structure showing conserved 8-10 cysteine residues with a characteristic spacing pattern. Functional analysis indicates that this protein is not a ligand or neurotransmitter but has the capacity to enhance nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function in the presence of acetylcholine. This gene may also play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.^[5]

The LYNX1 gene codes for a protein (Lynx1) that binds to acetylcholine receptors in the brain.^[6] Lynx1 a member of the Ly6 superfamily of proteins that are capable of modulating neurotransmitter receptors.^[7]

Lynx1 and Visual Plasticity

Transgenic mice without Lynx1 expression do not have a normal critical period of neuroplasticity in the visual cortex for development of ocular dominance columns.^[8] These mice show unusually rapid recovery from amblyopia in adulthood indicating a role in reduction of synaptic plasticity during the normal expression of Lynx1 in adult brain.^[6]

Lynx1 reduces adult visual cortex plasticity by binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (NAchR) and diminishing acetylcholine signaling.^[9] After the developmental critical period and into adulthood, both Lynx1 mRNA and protein levels increase in the adult V1 and the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN).^[9] Lynx1 and nAChR mRNAs are co-expressed in the LGN, as well as in parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons.^[9] After monocular deprivation during the critical period to induce amblyopia, Lynx1 knock-out rat models spontaneously recovered normal visual acuity by reopening the closed eye.^[9] Similarly, an infusion of physostigmine to increase acetylcholine signaling prompted recovery from amblyopia in wild type mice^[9] Inhibition of Lynx1 may be a possible therapeutic mechanism to prolong synaptic plasticity of the visual cortex and improve binocular function of some amblyopes.

See also

Other Ly6 family proteins that are expressed in the brain: Lynx2, LYPD6, LYPD6B and PSCA.^[6]