Protocadherin Gamma A8 (PCDHgA8)

PCDHGA8 is 1 of 22 tandemly arranged genes within the PCDHG gene cluster on chromosome 5q31. The 22 PCDHG genes function as """variable""" exons that are individually spliced to a downstream constant region to form distinct PCDHG transcripts. The variable PCDHG exons encode the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the protocadherin protein, and the common region encodes the intracellular domain .By screening a brain cDNA library for genes with the potential to encode large proteins, Nagase et al. (1997) identified a cDNA encoding PCDHGA8, which they termed KIAA0327. The 820-amino acid protein was predicted to be involved in cell signaling. RT-PCR analysis detected weak expression in placenta and kidney.