TY - JOUR AU - Loughner, Chelsea L. AU - Bruford, Elspeth A. AU - McAndrews, Monica S. AU - Delp, Emili E. AU - Swamynathan, Sudha AU - Swamynathan, Shivalingappa K. PY - 2016 DA - 2016/04/21 TI - Organization, evolution and functions of the human and mouse Ly6/uPAR family genes JO - Human Genomics SP - 10 VL - 10 IS - 1 AB - Members of the lymphocyte antigen-6 (Ly6)/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) superfamily of proteins are cysteine-rich proteins characterized by a distinct disulfide bridge pattern that creates the three-finger Ly6/uPAR (LU) domain. Although the Ly6/uPAR family proteins share a common structure, their expression patterns and functions vary. To date, 35 human and 61 mouse Ly6/uPAR family members have been identified. Based on their subcellular localization, these proteins are further classified as GPI-anchored on the cell membrane, or secreted. The genes encoding Ly6/uPAR family proteins are conserved across different species and are clustered in syntenic regions on human chromosomes 8, 19, 6 and 11, and mouse Chromosomes 15, 7, 17, and 9, respectively. Here, we review the human and mouse Ly6/uPAR family gene and protein structure and genomic organization, expression, functions, and evolution, and introduce new names for novel family members. SN - 1479-7364 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-016-0074-2 DO - 10.1186/s40246-016-0074-2 ID - Loughner2016 ER -