IPR028147
NELL2-interacting cofactor for lumicrine signalling
InterPro entry
Short name | NICOL |
Description
Nicol protein (also known as C4ORF48 in humans) is a small secreted protein crucial for lumicrine signalling. It forms a complex with NELL2, facilitating sperm maturation in the epididymis. Males lacking NICOL are sterile, but fertility can be restored by NICOL expression in testicular germ cells, highlighting its importance in male reproduction
[1, 2].
References
1.C4ORF48, a gene from the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome critical region, encodes a putative neuropeptide and is expressed during neocortex and cerebellar development. Endele S, Nelkenbrecher C, Bordlein A, Schlickum S, Winterpacht A. Neurogenetics 12, 155-63, (2011). View articlePMID: 21287218
2.A small secreted protein NICOL regulates lumicrine-mediated sperm maturation and male fertility. Kiyozumi D, Shimada K, Chalick M, Emori C, Kodani M, Oura S, Noda T, Endo T, Matzuk MM, Wreschner DH, Ikawa M. Nat Commun 14, 2354, (2023). View articlePMID: 37095084