This gene encodes a member of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). The DGC spans the sarcolemma and is comprised of dystrophin, syntrophin, alpha- and beta-dystroglycans and sarcoglycans. The DGC provides a structural link between the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix of muscle cells. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants that encode different protein isoforms have been described. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2008].
Wiemann, Weil, Wellenreuther, Gassenhuber, Glassl, Ansorge, Böcher, Blöcker, Bauersachs, Blum, Lauber, Düsterhöft, Beyer, Köhrer, Strack, Mewes, Ottenwälder, Obermaier, Tampe, Heubner, Wambutt, Korn et al.: "Toward a catalog of human genes and proteins: sequencing and analysis of 500 novel complete protein coding human cDNAs. ..." in: Genome research, Vol. 11, Issue 3, pp. 422-35, (2001) (PubMed).
Crosbie, Heighway, Venzke, Lee, Campbell: "Sarcospan, the 25-kDa transmembrane component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex." in: The Journal of biological chemistry, Vol. 272, Issue 50, pp. 31221-4, (1998) (PubMed).
Heighway, Betticher, Hoban, Altermatt, Cowen: "Coamplification in tumors of KRAS2, type 2 inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate receptor gene, and a novel human gene, KRAG." in: Genomics, Vol. 35, Issue 1, pp. 207-14, (1996) (PubMed).