UTRN
UTRN is the gene that encodes utrophin, a cytoskeletal protein related to dystrophin. Utrophin is part of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex and helps stabilize the sarcolemma, the muscle cell membrane, during contraction. In humans, utrophin is most abundant during development and at the neuromuscular junction, and its levels in adult skeletal muscle are generally lower but can be increased in response to injury or disease. The gene produces multiple utrophin isoforms through alternative splicing, including a full-length form commonly referred to as utrophin A.
Utrophin belongs to the spectrin superfamily and shares functional similarities with dystrophin. It associates with membrane-associated
Clinical and research relevance: Utrophin has attracted attention as a potential therapeutic target for Duchenne muscular