Clathrin interactor 1 (CLINT1), also known as EPSIN4, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CLINT1gene.[5][6][7]
Function
The CLINT1 protein binds to the terminal domain of the clathrin heavy chain and stimulates clathrin cage vesicle assembly. Clathrin coated vesicles enable neurotransmitter receptors and other proteins to be endocytosed or taken up across neuronal membranes and across the membranes of other types of cells. This enables a turnover of neuroreceptors or other proteins to be maintained and thus the numbers of receptors can be fine tuned.[6]
Clinical significance
The CLINT1 gene has been shown to be involved in the genetic aetiology of schizophrenia in four studies [8][9][10][11][12] It is known that the antipsychotic drugs chlorpromazine and clozapine stabilise clathrin coated vesicles[13][14] and this may be one reason why antipsychotic drugs are effective in treating delusions, auditory hallucinations and many of the other symptoms of schizophrenia.
^Gurling H, Pimm J, McQuillin A (January 2007). "Replication of genetic association studies between markers at the Epsin 4 gene locus and schizophrenia in two Han Chinese samples". Schizophr. Res. 89 (1–3): 357–9. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2006.08.024. PMID17070672.
^Tang RQ, Zhao XZ, Shi YY, Tang W, Gu NF, Feng GY, Xing YL, Zhu SM, Sang H, Liang PJ, He L (April 2006). "Family-based association study of Epsin 4 and Schizophrenia". Mol. Psychiatry. 11 (4): 395–9. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001780. PMID16402136.
^Liou YJ, Lai IC, Wang YC, Bai YM, Lin CC, Lin CY, Chen TT, Chen JY (June 2006). "Genetic analysis of the human ENTH (Epsin 4) gene and schizophrenia". Schizophr. Res. 84 (2–3): 236–43. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2006.02.021. PMID16616458.
^Escamilla M, Lee BD, Ontiveros A, Raventos H, Nicolini H, Mendoza R, Jerez A, Munoz R, Medina R, Figueroa A, Walss-Bass C, Armas R, Contreras S, Ramirez ME, Dassori A (December 2008). "The epsin 4 gene is associated with psychotic disorders in families of Latin American origin". Schizophr. Res. 106 (2–3): 253–7. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2008.09.005. PMID18929466.
^Phonphok Y, Rosenthal KS (April 1991). "Stabilization of clathrin coated vesicles by amantadine, tromantadine and other hydrophobic amines". FEBS Lett. 281 (1–2): 188–90. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(91)80390-O. PMID1901801.