Neurochemistry international
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X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) is a common cause of moderate to severe intellectual disability in males. XLMR protein related to neurite extension (Xpn, also known as KIAA2022) has been implicated as a gene responsible for XLMR in humans. Although Xpn is highly expressed in the developing brain and is involved in neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells and neurons, little is known about the functional role of Xpn. ⋯ Furthermore, overexpressed Xpn protein was strongly expressed in the nuclei of PC12 and 293T cells. Finally, depletion of Xpn perturbed cellular migration by enhancing N-cadherin and β1-integrin expression in a PC12 cell wound healing assay. We conclude that Xpn regulates cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and cellular migration by regulating the expression of adhesion molecules.