Erythrocyte Membrane Protein Band 4.1 Like Protein 2 (EPB41L2)

Erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 (EPB41) is a multifunctional protein that mediates interactions between the erythrocyte cytoskeleton and the overlying plasma membrane. EPB41L2 is a neuronally-enriched protein that is structurally similar to EPB41. The encoded protein binds and stabilizes D2 and D3 dopamine receptors at the neuronal plasma membrane. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene, but the full-length nature of only two of them has been determined.Northern blot analysis detected wide 4.1G gene expression among human tissues, with most tissues exhibiting a prominent mRNA of approximately 5 kb. Expression of 4.1G in COS cells revealed diffuse cytoplasmic and more intense perinuclear localization, a staining pattern significantly different from that of EPB41.