Otoraplin (OTOR)

Otoraplin is a protein secreted via the Golgi apparatus and may function in cartilage development and maintenance. A frequent polymorphism in the translation start codon of this gene can abolish translation and may be associated with forms of deafness. This gene is a member of the melanoma-inhibiting activity gene family. In addition, alternate polyA sites exist for this gene.Human OTOR encodes a 128-amino acid protein with a predicted secretion signal peptide. The protein shares high sequence identity with the mouse (90%), chicken (80%), and bullfrog (60%) orthologs and with the related human CDRAP/MIA protein (43%). OTOR is translated as an approximately 15-kD polypeptide that is assembled into a covalently linked homodimer, modified by sulfation, and secreted from the cells via the Golgi apparatus.