Cav13

Cav13 is a provisional designation used for a putative membrane protein sometimes described as a member of the caveolin family. Unlike the well-characterized Cav-1, Cav-2 and Cav-3, Cav13 has not been independently validated as an expressed protein, and its gene status remains uncertain in peer-reviewed literature.

Genomic context: In some vertebrate genome annotations, CAV13 appears as a small gene near other caveolin loci. Predicted transcripts are rarely supported by direct RNA evidence, and cross-species conservation is inconsistent, which has led researchers to treat Cav13 as a tentative annotation rather than a confirmed gene.

Protein features: When included in annotations, the predicted product is a small protein (roughly 130–170 amino acids) with a central hydrophobic region compatible with a hairpin membrane insertion and motifs reminiscent of caveolin scaffolding domains. No experimental structure or subcellular localization has been reported.

Function and significance: Proposed roles include involvement in lipid raft organization and caveolae-associated signaling, but these remain speculative without functional studies. There are no published knockout, overexpression, or clinical associations for Cav13, and validation is lacking.

Status and interpretation: At present, Cav13 is best regarded as a provisional annotation in some genomic databases. It is listed for completeness but treated as hypothetical until transcription, translation and function are demonstrated by experimental evidence.