Anoctamin 5 (ANO5)

ANO5 encodes a member of the anoctamin family of transmembrane proteins. The encoded protein is likely a calcium activated chloride channel. Mutations in this gene have been associated with gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described.Highly expressed in brain, heart, kidney, lung, and skeletal muscle. Weakly expressed in bone marrow, fetal liver, placenta, spleen, thymus, osteoblasts and periodontal ligament cells.Defects in ANO5 are the cause of gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia (GDD) . GDD is a rare skeletal syndrome characterized by bone fragility, sclerosis of tubular bones, and cemento-osseous lesions of the jawbone. Patients experience frequent bone fractures caused by trivial accidents in childhood; however the fractures heal normally without bone deformity.