Annotation inferences using phylogenetic trees
Automatic transfer of experimentally verified manual GO annotation data to orthologs using Ensembl Compara.
Characterization of human DSPG3, a small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan.
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Original characterization of human EPYC (DSPG3) showing it is a small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan expressed in cartilage, ligament, and placental tissues. Contains 322 amino acids with leucine-rich repeats, glycosaminoglycan attachment sites, and is localized to chromosome 12q21.
"DSPG3 is expressed in cartilage, as well as ligament and placental tissues...composed of 1515 nucleotides of cDNA that code for a 322-amino-acid protein"
Deep research summary on EPYC gene function
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EPYC is a Class III SLRP containing 6 LRRs that regulates collagen fibrillogenesis by binding collagen fibrils and controlling lateral fibril growth through steric hindrance
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Functions in organizing three-dimensional ECM architecture through interactions with collagen, hyaluronan, and other proteoglycans
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Modulates growth factor signaling by binding and sequestering TGF-β and BMPs, reducing their bioavailability
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Essential for maintaining articular cartilage integrity - EPYC-deficient mice develop progressive osteoarthritis with cartilage erosions
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Participates in endochondral ossification and influences bone development, though with subtle early skeletal abnormalities
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In cancer contexts, promotes tumor progression through PI3K/AKT and focal adhesion pathway activation
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Post-translationally modified with dermatan sulfate GAG chains that are critical for growth factor binding and collagen interactions
Falcon (Edison) deep research synthesis on EPYC gene function
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EPYC is a secreted ECM small leucine-rich proteoglycan (DS/CS SLRP) localized to cartilage (including epiphyseal/growth plate cartilage) and implicated in collagen fibrillogenesis and cartilage matrix maturation
"EPYC/epiphycan is a **secreted ECM SLRP** that contributes to **collagen fibrillogenesis and cartilage ECM assembly**"
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Falcon synthesis reports the Class III SLRP architecture with 7 LRRs (fewer than the 10-12 LRRs of other SLRP classes), discrepant with the 6-LRR figure in the perplexity summary
"epiphycan contains **7 LRRs** (fewer than the 10–11 LRRs typical of many other SLRPs)"
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2024 disease-context studies extend EPYC biology into cancer microenvironment signaling - PI3K-AKT in pancreatic cancer (Yang et al. 2024) and Wnt/Axin/β-catenin plus VEGFR1/VEGF angiogenesis in laryngeal cancer (Zhou et al. 2024 preprint)
"EPYC's known biology into **cancer microenvironment signaling**, including regulation of **PI3K–AKT** (pancreatic cancer) and **Wnt/Axin/β-catenin** plus **VEGFR1/VEGF**-linked angiogenesis (laryngeal cancer)"
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2024 scRNAseq mouse work identifies Epyc as a growth plate chondrocyte marker absent from articular chondrocytes and perichondrial cells, supporting strong association with epiphyseal/growth plate cartilage
EPYC functions as a novel prognostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer
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EPYC regulates fibril formation by interacting with collagen fibrils and other extracellular matrix proteins; EPYC is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer cell lines and promotes proliferation via PI3K-AKT signaling in vivo and in vitro
"it can regulate the fibril formation by interacting with collagen fibrils and other extracellular matrix proteins"
Roles of Two Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycans Decorin and Biglycan in Pregnancy and Pregnancy-Associated Diseases.
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Epiphycan is Class III SLRP, the only dermatan sulfate proteoglycan of this class, containing seven LRRs (vs 10-12 in other SLRP classes)
"Class III—This class contains three members: epiphycan, opticin, and osteoglycin. In contrast to 10–12 LRRs present in other SLRP classes, the members of this class consist of a low number of LRRs (seven LRRs) and seven exons. Epiphycan is the only dermatan sulfate proteoglycan of this class."
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SLRPs are extracellular matrix structural constituents that maintain tissue architecture and participate in collagen fibrillogenesis
"SLRPs are ubiquitously expressed in the ECM of most tissues where they act as structural constituents to maintain tissue architecture, and they are involved in range of fundamental biological and pathophysiological functions, including collagen fibrillogenesis"
Biodiversity of CS-proteoglycan sulphation motifs: chemical messenger recognition modules with roles in information transfer, control of cellular behaviour and tissue morphogenesis.
Human mesenchymal stem cells induced to differentiate as chondrocytes follow a biphasic pattern of extracellular matrix production
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Epiphycan appears as a novel proteoglycan during the maturation phase of in vitro chondrogenesis and is characteristic of articular cartilage
"Maturation results in the appearance of novel PGs such as epiphycan which is characteristic of articular cartilage"
Imbalanced cellular metabolism compromises cartilage homeostasis and joint function in a mouse model of mucolipidosis type III gamma
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Epyc is among the most strongly downregulated transcripts (Log2 ratio approx -4) in hip joint articular cartilage of Gnptgko mice, and is identified as an essential component of the cartilage collagen fibrillar network
"matrilin-3 (Matn3) and epiphycan (Epyc), which are essential components of collagen fibrillar network in cartilage (Klatt et al., 2011; Brachvogel et al., 2013), were the most downregulated in Gnptgko mice, with a Log2 ratio of −4 compared to wild-type animals"
Unveiling promising breast cancer biomarkers: an integrative approach combining bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification.
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EPYC mRNA is significantly upregulated in breast cancer tumors versus paired adjacent tissue (qRT-PCR, n=55, P<0.0001), but the overall survival association is weak (HR 1.04, log-rank P=0.72)