*601599
SARCOSPAN; SSPN

Alternative titles; symbols
SPN1
K-RAS ONCOGENE-ASSOCIATED GENE; KRAG
KIRSTEN-RAS-ASSOCIATED GENE
DYSTROPHIN-ASSOCIATED GLYCOPROTEIN, 25-KD
DAGA5

HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: SSPN

Cytogenetic location: 12p12.1     Genomic coordinates (GRCh37): 12:26,348,268 - 26,387,709 (from NCBI)

TEXT
Description
The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) is a multisubunit protein complex that spans the sarcolemma and provides structural linkage between the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix of muscle cells. There are 3 main subcomplexes of the DGC: the cytoplasmic proteins dystrophin (DMD; 300377) and syntrophin (SNTA1; 601017), the alpha- and beta-dystroglycans (see 128239), and the sarcoglycans (see, e.g., SGCA; 600119) (Crosbie et al., 2000). The SSPN gene encodes sarcospan, another member of the DGC.

Cloning
Scott et al. (1994) reported the sequence of a murine gene that is coamplified with Ki-ras (190070) in the Y1 murine adrenal carcinoma cell line. The gene, which they designated Krag (Kirsten ras-associated gene), encodes a predicted 216-amino acid protein with 4 potential hydrophobic domains. Its hydropathy plot resembles certain of the transmembrane-4 superfamily members such as CO-029 (600769) and ME491 (155740).

Heighway et al. (1996) isolated the human KRAG gene and showed that the predicted amino acid sequence is 91% identical to the mouse sequence. Northern blot analysis showed that KRAG is expressed in a variety of tissues with highest levels in muscle, where alternative splice variants were also observed. One end of the YAC contained a sequence that was identical to that reported for inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type 2 (ITPR2; 600144), which had previously been mapped to 12p11.

Crosbie et al. (1997) isolated a cDNA for the 25-kD dystrophin-associated protein from a human skeletal muscle cDNA library. The cDNA encodes a protein with 4 transmembrane spanning domains, which the authors termed 'sarcospan.' Northern blot analysis detected a 6.5-kb mRNA transcript exclusively in skeletal and cardiac muscle; a 4.5-kb mRNA transcript was also identified in skeletal and cardiac muscle as well as in thymus, prostate, testes, ovary, small intestine, colon, and spleen. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that sarcospan complexes with and is an integral component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex.

Gene Structure
Heighway et al. (1996) determined that the human KRAG gene contains 3 exons.

Scott et al. (1994) determined that the murine Krag gene contains 3 exons and spans about 20 kb of genomic DNA.

Mapping
By fluorescence in situ hybridization, Heighway et al. (1996) mapped the human KRAG gene to chromosome 12p11.2.

Scott et al. (1994) found that a homologous EST to murine Krag mapped to chromosome 12.

Gene Function
Heighway et al. (1996) showed that KRAS2, KRAG, and ITPR2 were all coamplified in lung and ovarian carcinoma cells.

Several autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (see 253600) are caused by primary mutations in sarcoglycan genes. Crosbie et al. (2000) showed that the sarcospan protein is lost in patients with either a complete or partial loss of alpha-, beta-, or gamma-sarcoglycan (SGCG; 608896). In particular, sarcospan was absent in a gamma-sarcoglycanopathy (LGDM2C; 253700) patient with normal levels of alpha-, beta- (600900), and delta-sarcoglycan (601411). The authors hypothesized that assembly of the complete, tetrameric sarcoglycan complex is a prerequisite for membrane targeting and localization of sarcospan. The authors screened over 50 autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy cases for mutations in sarcospan, but none was identified.

REFERENCES
1. Crosbie, R. H., Heighway, J., Venzke, D. P., Lee, J. C., Campbell, K. P. Sarcospan, the 25-kDa transmembrane component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 31221-31224, 1997. [PubMed: 9395445, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

2. Crosbie, R. H., Lim, L. E., Moore, S. A., Hirano, M., Hays, A. P., Maybaum, S. W., Collin, H., Dovico, S. A., Stolle, C. A., Fardeau, M., Tome, F. M. S., Campbell, K. P. Molecular and genetic characterization of sarcospan: insights into sarcoglycan-sarcospan interactions. Hum. Molec. Genet. 9: 2019-2027, 2000. [PubMed: 10942431, related citations] [Full Text: HighWire Press, Pubget]

3. Heighway, J., Betticher, D. C., Hoban, P. R., Altermatt, H. J., Cowen, R. Coamplification in tumors of KRAS2, type 2 inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate receptor gene, and a novel human gene, KRAG. Genomics 35: 207-214, 1996. [PubMed: 8661122, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

4. Scott, A. F., Elizaga, A., Morrell, J., Bergen, A., Penno, M. B. Characterization of a gene coamplified with Ki-ras in Y1 murine adrenal carcinoma cells that codes for a putative membrane protein. Genomics 20: 227-230, 1994. [PubMed: 8020969, related citations] [Full Text: Elsevier Science, Pubget]

Contributors: Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 9/24/2004
George E. Tiller - updated : 10/26/2000
Creation Date: Alan F. Scott : 1/2/1997
Edit History: carol : 09/24/2004
ckniffin : 9/10/2004
ckniffin : 9/3/2004
carol : 7/27/2004
mcapotos : 11/2/2000
mcapotos : 10/26/2000
mcapotos : 10/26/2000
alopez : 7/19/1999
carol : 3/10/1999
terry : 1/16/1997
jenny : 1/7/1997
terry : 1/2/1997
mark : 1/2/1997