Background of the antigen
Phocein is a 225 amino acid protein encoded by the human gene MOBKL3. Phocein belongs to the MOB1/phocein family and is phosphorylated on serine residues. Phocein is a widely expressed, highly conserved intracellular protein. The sequence of Phocein has limited homology to the sigma subunits from Clathrin adaptor complexes and contains an additional stretch bearing a putative SH3-binding domain. Phocein is usually associated with membranes but can be present in the cytosol, where it behaves as a protein complex. Phocein is the major partner of the striatin family members, which are scaffolding proteins involved in signaling and trafficking. Due to its association with Dynamin via direct interactions with nucleotide diphosphate kinase (NDPK) and Eps15, Phocein has been implicated in vesicular trafficking, acting in particular in the endocytic process.
