Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the CXADR gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

. The protein encoded by this gene is a type I membrane receptor

Receptor (biochemistry)

In biochemistry, a receptor is a molecule found on the surface of a cell, which receives specific chemical signals from neighbouring cells or the wider environment within an organism...

 for group B coxsackie viruses and subgroup C adenoviruses. Pseudogenes of this gene are found on chromosomes 15, 18, and 21.

Function

CAR is strongly expressed in the developing central nervous system. It functions as a homophilic and also as a heterophilic cell adhesion

Cell adhesion

Cellular adhesion is the binding of a cell to a surface, extracellular matrix or another cell using cell adhesion molecules such as selectins, integrins, and cadherins. Correct cellular adhesion is essential in maintaining multicellular structure...

 molecule through its interactions with extracellular matrix

Extracellular matrix

In biology, the extracellular matrix is the extracellular part of animal tissue that usually provides structural support to the animal cells in addition to performing various other important functions. The extracellular matrix is the defining feature of connective tissue in animals.Extracellular...

 glycoproteins such as: fibronectin

Fibronectin

Fibronectin is a high-molecular weight glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix that binds to membrane-spanning receptor proteins called integrins. In addition to integrins, fibronectin also binds extracellular matrix components such as collagen, fibrin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans...

, agrin

Agrin

Agrin is a large proteoglycan whose best characterised role is in the development of the neuromuscular junction during embryogenesis. Agrin is named based on its involvement in the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors during synaptogenesis. In humans, this protein is encoded by the AGRN...

, laminin-1

Laminin

Laminins are major proteins in the basal lamina , a protein network foundation for most cells and organs...

 and tenascin-R

Tenascin-R

Tenascin-R is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TNR gene.- Function :Tenascin-R is an extracellular matrix protein expressed primarily in the central nervous system. It is a member of the tenascin gene family, which includes at least 3 genes in mammals: TNC , TNX , and TNR...

.

Further reading