PICALM
PICALM (phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein, also known as CALM or CLTH) is a cytoplasmic adapter protein that drives clathrin-mediated endocytosis. It recruits AP-2 and clathrin to the plasma membrane to assemble clathrin-coated vesicles. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PICALM research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PICALM is a cytoplasmic adapter protein with a critical role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, a process important for the internalisation of cell receptors, synaptic transmission and the removal of apoptotic cells. It recruits AP-2 and attaches clathrin triskelions to the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane, leading to the assembly of clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). It also regulates vesicle size and maturation by directly sensing and driving membrane curvature, and it may help determine how much membrane is recycled by regulating the size of the clathrin cage.
Beyond clathrin binding, PICALM mediates the endocytosis of small R-SNAREs between plasma membranes and endosomes, including VAMP2, VAMP3, VAMP4, VAMP7 and VAMP8. This SNARE trafficking is required for the formation and maturation of autophagic precursors, so PICALM modulates autophagy and the turnover of autophagy substrates such as MAPT/TAU and the amyloid precursor protein cleaved C-terminal fragment (APP-CTF). The protein is also involved in AP2-dependent clathrin-mediated endocytosis at the neuromuscular junction. It is found at the cell membrane, in clathrin-coated pits and vesicles, at the Golgi apparatus and in the nucleus, and it belongs to the PICALM/SNAP91 family.
The human PICALM gene is also known as CALM and CLTH, and multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encode different isoforms. A t(10;11)(p13;q14) chromosomal translocation fuses the gene to MLLT10 and is found in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and malignant lymphomas. Polymorphisms in the gene are associated with the risk of Alzheimer disease. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Picalm.
PICALM recruits AP-2 and clathrin to the plasma membrane and shapes coated vesicle size and maturation, making it a core adapter for studying endocytic trafficking.
PICALM-dependent endocytosis of VAMP SNAREs is required for autophagic precursor formation and affects turnover of substrates such as MAPT/TAU and APP-CTF.
Polymorphisms in the PICALM gene are associated with the risk of Alzheimer disease, linking endocytic adapter biology to neurodegeneration research.
The t(10;11) translocation fuses PICALM to MLLT10 in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and malignant lymphomas.
PICALM is a cytoplasmic adapter protein in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. It recruits AP-2 and clathrin to the plasma membrane to assemble clathrin-coated vesicles, senses and drives membrane curvature, and mediates endocytosis of VAMP SNAREs needed for autophagic precursor formation.
PICALM is also called CALM and CLTH, and its full name is phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein. NCBI Gene reports that multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encode different isoforms, so check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Yes. Polymorphisms in the PICALM gene are associated with Alzheimer disease risk. A t(10;11)(p13;q14) translocation fusing PICALM with MLLT10 is found in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and malignant lymphomas. Mouse and rat orthologs are both named Picalm.
Clathrin adaptors, SNARE proteins, autophagy substrates and Alzheimer disease-related targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q13492; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.