LRRC8 involved in B cell development belongs to a novel family of leucine-rich repeat proteins

In a previous study, we isolated a novel gene, LRRC8 (leucine-rich repeat-containing 8), in a girl with congenital agammaglobulinemia. We have now identified four unknown LRRC8-like genes, named TA-LRRP, AD158, LRRC5, and FLJ23420. Their predicted structures are very similar to each other, and highly conserved between humans and the mouse. All five genes encode proteins consisting of 16 extracellular leucine-rich repeats (LRRs), all of which have four transmembrane regions except for FLJ23420. These genes belong to a novel family, designated the LRRC8 family, within the superfamily of LRR proteins. TA-LRRP, AD158, and LRRC5 might be implicated in proliferation and activation of lymphocytes and monocytes.