Podocan: Proteins and Enzymes

Podocan is a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the small leucine-rich repeat (SLR) protein family. It lacks a serine/glycine dipeptide consensus sequence required for glycosaminoglycan attachment and is not a proteoglycan. Podocan transcripts were originally isolated from kidney podocytes. Podocan is also expressed in multiple other tissues including pineal gland, bladder, and vascular tissues. Podocan binds type I collagen and may affect cell migration. The amino acid sequences of mature human and mouse podocan share 92% identity.