Chimerin 1 (CHN1), also known as alpha-1-chimerin, n-chimerin, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CHN1gene.[2][3]
Chimerin 1 is a GTPase activating protein specific for RAC GTP-binding proteins. It is expressed primarily in the brain and may be involved in signal transduction.
This gene encodes GTPase-activating protein for p21-rac and a phorbol ester receptor. It plays an important role in ocular motor axon pathfinding.
Mutational analysis suggests that un-overlapping residues of the RhoGAP domain are involved in RAC1-binding and the RAC1-GAP activity. Regulation of the RhoGAP activity of CHN1 by phorbol esters, natural compounds mimic of the lipid second messenger DAG, presents a possible way of designing agents for therapeutics.[6]
Clinical significance
Heterozygous missense mutations in this gene cause Duane's retraction syndrome 2 (DURS2).[7]
^Hall C, Monfries C, Smith P, Lim HH, Kozma R, Ahmed S, Vanniasingham V, Leung T, Lim L (January 1990). "Novel human brain cDNA encoding a 34,000 Mr protein n-chimaerin, related to both the regulatory domain of protein kinase C and BCR, the product of the breakpoint cluster region gene". J. Mol. Biol. 211 (1): 11–6. doi:10.1016/0022-2836(90)90006-8. PMID2299665.