Pikachurin, also known as AGRINL (AGRINL) and EGF-like, fibronectin type-III and laminin G-like domain-containing protein (EGFLAM), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EGFLAMgene.[5][6][7]
Pikachurin is a dystroglycan-interacting protein which has an essential role in the precise interactions between the photoreceptorribbon synapse and the bipolar dendrites.[6] The binding with dystroglycan (DG) depends on several factors (glycosylation of DG, presence of divalent cations, presence of other proteins).
A non-correct binding between pikachurin and DG is associated with muscular dystrophies that often involve eye abnormalities.[8]
^ abSato S, Omori Y, Katoh K, Kondo M, Kanagawa M, Miyata K, Funabiki K, Koyasu T, Kajimura N, Miyoshi T, Sawai H, Kobayashi K, Tani A, Toda T, Usukura J, Tano Y, Fujikado T, Furukawa T (August 2008). "Pikachurin, a dystroglycan ligand, is essential for photoreceptor ribbon synapse formation". Nature Neuroscience. 11 (8): 923–31. doi:10.1038/nn.2160. PMID18641643. S2CID5921645.
^Gu XH, Lu Y, Ma D, Liu XS, Guo SW (October 2009). "[Model of aberrant DNA methylation patterns and its applications in epithelial ovarian cancer.]". Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi (in Chinese). 44 (10): 754–9. PMID20078962.