Blog

GRN molecular target information overview


  • Molecular name: GRN, granulin precursor
  • Alias: PCDGF; PGRN; CLN11
  • Alias: progranulin


    • Overview of GRN molecular targets


    Granulin (GRN) is encoded by the GRN gene in humans. Its precursor protein, progranulin, is also known as teratoma cell-derived growth factor. The signal peptide is cleaved to produce mature GRN, and further cleavage can produce many active polypeptides with a molecular weight of 6 kDa. Both peptides and intact GRN can regulate cell growth. However, different members of the GRN protein family may have inhibitory and/or promoting effects on cell growth. GRN family members are important for normal development, wound healing and tumorigenesis. GRN may have cytokine-like activity and play a role in inflammation, wound repair and tissue remodeling. Human liver flukes can secrete growth hormones similar to GRN, which can lead to the development of bile duct cancer. Mutations in the GRN gene can be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with high penetrance, resulting in up to 25% frontotemporal lobar degeneration.


    Human GRN molecular target information


    Molecular name: GRN, granulin precursor


    Alias:

    • acrogranin
    • CLN11
    • epithelin
    • GEP
    • glycoprotein 88
    • glycoprotein of 88 Kda
    • GP88
    • granulin
    • granulin-epithelin
    • granulins
    • PC cell-derived growth factor
    • PCDGF
    • PEPI
    • PGRN
    • proepithelin
    • progranulin

    Gene sequence:NCBI_Gene: 2896

    Protein sequence:UniProtKB: P28799


    Human GRN target molecular function (prediction)


    Enables chaperone binding activity. Involved in several processes, including lysosomal lumen acidification; negative regulation of respiratory burst involved in inflammatory response; and positive regulation of lysosome organization. Located in several cellular components, including Golgi apparatus; late endosome; and lysosomal membrane. Implicated in dementia (multiple); neurodegenerative disease (multiple); neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 11; and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Biomarker of several diseases, including Grn-related frontotemporal lobar degeneration with Tdp43 inclusions; atherosclerosis; autistic disorder; multiple sclerosis (multiple); and neurodegenerative disease (multiple).


    Mouse Grn molecular target information


    Molecular name: Grn, granulin


    Alias:

    • acrogranulin
    • epithelin
    • PC cell-derived growth factor
    • Pgrn
    • progranulin


    Gene sequence:NCBI_Gene: 14824

    Protein sequence:


    Mouse Grn target molecular function (prediction)


    Predicted to enable chaperone binding activity. Involved in several processes, including astrocyte activation involved in immune response; positive regulation of cellular component organization; and regulation of defense response. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including blastocyst hatching; locomotor exploration behavior; and lysosomal protein catabolic process. Located in several cellular components, including endoplasmic reticulum; lysosome; and trans-Golgi network. Is expressed in several structures, including early conceptus; gonad; integument; nervous system; and placenta. Used to study Grn-related frontotemporal lobar degeneration with Tdp43 inclusions and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in dementia (multiple); neurodegenerative disease (multiple); neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 11; and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Orthologous to human GRN (granulin) precursor).


    Rat Grn molecular target information


    Molecular name: Grn, granulin precursor

    Alias:

    • acrogranin
    • epithelin
    • granulin
    • granulins
    • PEPI
    • PGRN
    • proepithelin
    • progranulin
    • prostate cancer cell-derived growth factor

    Gene sequence:NCBI_Gene: 29143

    Protein sequence:


    Rat Grn target molecular function (prediction)


    Predicted to enable chaperone binding activity. Involved in several processes, including chondrocyte proliferation; positive regulation of dendritic spine development; and response to estradiol. Predicted to be located in several cellular components, including late endosome; lysosomal membrane; and trans-Golgi network. disease (multiple); neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 11; and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Orthologous to human GRN (granulin precursor).