Attractin

Attractin is a serum glycoprotein of 175 kDa and found in both membrane-bound and secreted forms as a result of alternative splicing. Both the secreted and membrane-bound forms of attractin may be involved in the development and maintenance of the central nervous system. Membrane-bound attractin is a co-receptor for Agouti, antagonist of melanocortin-1 receptor. Secreted attractin, expressed by activated T lymphocytes and modulates interactions between T cells and monocytes/macrop­hages, was examined as a potential marker of immune activity. Attractin may be a component of a pathway for regulated protein turnover that also involves mahogunin, a wide-expressed E3 ubiquitin ligase found at particularly high levels in the brain. Attractin was considered as an extracellular target amenable for the development of obesity-regulating drugs, also.