CETN4

CETN4 is a gene that encodes centrin-4, a member of the centrins family of small, calcium-binding proteins that localize to the centrosome and basal bodies. Centrins are highly conserved across eukaryotes and are associated with key cellular processes related to centrosome function, centriole duplication, and ciliogenesis.

In human cells, cetn4-derived centrin-4 is thought to participate in centrosome-related activities and may influence centriole duplication and spindle organization. The protein localizes to centrosomes and basal bodies and is believed to engage in calcium-dependent interactions within multiprotein complexes that include other centrosomal components. While the precise functions of CETN4 are not as well characterized as those of some other centrins, genetic and cellular studies suggest potential redundancy with related centrins and participation in centrosome maturation and microtubule organization during the cell cycle.

Expression patterns for CETN4 indicate broad transcription across tissues, consistent with a general role in centrosome function. Evolutionarily, CETN4 is conserved in vertebrates and many invertebrates, reflecting the fundamental nature of centrins in cellular division and ciliogenesis.

Clinical significance for CETN4 has not been extensively defined; there are no widely established disease associations specific to CETN4. Nevertheless, because centrosomal proteins can affect cell division and ciliogenesis, CETN4 remains a subject of research for understanding how centrins contribute to centrosome biology and related cellular processes. Further studies aim to clarify CETN4’s precise roles, interactions, and potential involvement in disease contexts.