CAPN14 gene

CAPN14 (Calpain 14) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 2p23.1.

Calpains are a family of cytosolic calcium-activated cysteine proteases that are involved in a variety of cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell division, modulation of integrin-cytoskeleton interactions and synaptic plasticity (Dear et al. 2000). CAPN14 belongs to the family of large calpain subunits. Calpains are ubiquitously expressed in mammals. They structurally contain two subunits: an 80 kDa catalytic subunit and a 28 kDa regulatory subunit. The latter acts as a chaperone to stabilize the 80 kDa structure.

Diseases associated with CAPN14 include eosinophilic esophagitis and eosinophilic gastritis (Litosh VA et al. 2017).

1. Litosh VA et al. (2017) Calpain-14 and its association with eosinophilic esophagitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 139:1762-1771.