Chloride Channel, Nucleotide-Sensitive, 1A (CLNS1A), also known as ICln, is a protein-coding gene that plays a crucial role in various cellular processes. This protein is involved in the regulation of chloride ion transport and volume regulation in cells. It is encoded by the CLNS1A gene located on chromosome 11q14.1 .
The CLNS1A gene encodes a protein that consists of 237 amino acids and has a molecular mass of approximately 26.2 kDa . The protein contains four putative transmembrane domains, which are essential for its function as a chloride channel . The gene is expressed in various human tissues, including ocular ciliary epithelial cells and leukocytes .
CLNS1A is involved in multiple regulatory pathways and performs diverse functions, including:
The expression of CLNS1A has been observed in a variety of human tissues. Northern blot analysis has shown that the gene is expressed as an approximately 1.7-kb message in tissues such as ocular ciliary epithelial cells and leukocytes . The protein is also found in red blood cell membranes, where it forms stable complexes with beta-actin .
CLNS1A functions as a substrate adaptor in a trimeric complex with catalytic PRMT5 and MEP50 for arginine dimethylation of spliceosomal Sm proteins . This complex is predominantly localized in the nuclei of HeLa cells . Additionally, CLNS1A interacts with RIOK1, another adaptor protein, to recruit specific substrate proteins to the PRMT5 methyltransferase complex .
The protein’s mode of action involves its role as a chloride channel and its regulatory functions in various cellular processes. CLNS1A is involved in chloride transport and volume regulation in red blood cells . It also plays a role in the swelling-induced chloride current (ICl-swell) in HEK293 Phoenix cells .