Details for: FAM177B

Gene ID: 400823

Gene Type:  Protein-coding  - A gene that serves as a template for producing a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is then translated into a functional protein.

Symbol: FAM177B

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000197520

Description: family with sequence similarity 177 member B

Selected Context(s):  Overall

Cell Significance Landscape

Contexts:

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • epithelial cell CL0000066
    CSI 6.09
    rCSI 9.35%
    PRS 91.63
  • mucus secreting cell CL0000319
    CSI 4.99
    rCSI 7.92%
    PRS 98.92
  • intestine goblet cell CL0019031
    CSI 4.01
    rCSI 3.56%
    PRS 97.08
  • mature microglial cell CL0002629
    CSI 3.66
    rCSI 15.2%
    PRS 96.23
  • goblet cell CL0000160
    CSI 3.18
    rCSI 3.01%
    PRS 97.02
  • mature B cell CL0000785
    CSI 3.03
    rCSI 2.63%
    PRS 99.31
  • small intestine goblet cell CL1000495
    CSI 2.73
    rCSI 5.97%
    PRS 98.12
  • mucous neck cell CL0000651
    CSI 2.71
    rCSI 3.91%
    PRS 98.08
  • colon goblet cell CL0009039
    CSI 2.2
    rCSI 5.22%
    PRS 98.02
  • foveolar cell of stomach CL0002179
    CSI 1.96
    rCSI 4.17%
    PRS 98.08
  • central nervous system macrophage CL0000878
    CSI 1.65
    rCSI 5.47%
    PRS 97.91

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

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Legend:
  • Query Gene
  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

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Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) is a protein-coding gene located on human chromosome 1q41, as identified in large-scale sequencing and annotation projects ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1285), [Link](https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04727)). While its precise molecular function remains to be fully characterized, expression data indicates a highly significant role in secretory epithelial tissues. **Overall**, [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) shows prominent expression in various [mucus secreting cells](/details-cell/CL0000319), particularly [goblet cells](/details-cell/CL0000160) of the intestine. Its expression is also notably high in resident macrophages of the central nervous system, such as [mature microglial cells](/details-cell/CL0002629), suggesting a potential secondary role in specialized immune cell function. ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression profile of [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) strongly suggests its primary involvement in the function of secretory epithelial lineages. The gene exhibits its highest significance as a marker for [epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0000066) (CSI: 6.09). This association is further refined by its high significance in multiple, functionally related subsets of mucus-producing cells, including [mucus secreting cells](/details-cell/CL0000319) (CSI: 4.99), [intestine goblet cells](/details-cell/CL0019031) (CSI: 4.01), [small intestine goblet cells](/details-cell/CL1000495) (CSI: 2.73), [mucous neck cells](/details-cell/CL0000651) (CSI: 2.71), [colon goblet cells](/details-cell/CL0009039) (CSI: 2.20), and [foveolar cells of the stomach](/details-cell/CL0002179) (CSI: 1.96). This consistent pattern points towards a specialized function in the biogenesis, maintenance, or secretion of mucus, a critical component of mucosal barriers. Beyond its role in epithelial tissues, [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) also demonstrates a significant expression signature in specific immune cell populations. It is a notable marker for [mature microglial cells](/details-cell/CL0002629) (CSI: 3.66) and [central nervous system macrophages](/details-cell/CL0000878) (CSI: 1.65), suggesting a potential, albeit less characterized, role in the context of neuro-inflammation or CNS homeostasis. Additionally, its expression in [mature B cells](/details-cell/CL0000785) (CSI: 3.03) hints at a possible function within the adaptive immune system, although this is less pronounced than its role in secretory epithelia. ## Pathways and Molecular Function The specific molecular functions and biological pathways involving [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) are not yet well-defined. As its name, "family with sequence similarity 177 member B," implies, it belongs to a gene family whose functions are still under investigation. However, its highly specific expression pattern in mucus-secreting cells strongly suggests involvement in processes related to protein secretion, vesicle trafficking, or the maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity. Its presence in microglia and B cells may indicate a shared molecular function that is adapted to different cellular contexts, such as secretory pathways involved in cytokine release or antibody production. ## Research Directions The specific function of [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) remains a key unanswered question, and its distinct expression pattern provides a clear path for future investigation. Its high specificity for mucus-producing cells and microglia makes it an intriguing candidate for studies on mucosal biology and neuro-immunology. **Proposed Hypotheses:** 1. [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) is a critical component of the machinery for mucin granule biogenesis or exocytosis in gastrointestinal [goblet cells](/details-cell/CL0000160), and its dysregulation contributes to compromised mucosal barrier function seen in inflammatory bowel diseases. 2. In [mature microglial cells](/details-cell/CL0002629), [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) is involved in a specialized secretory pathway, perhaps related to the release of inflammatory mediators or extracellular vesicles, that is distinct from its role in epithelial mucus production. **Experimental Approach:** To test the hypothesis regarding its role in goblet cell function, a powerful approach would be to use CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) in human intestinal organoids. These organoids, which contain a self-renewing population of intestinal stem cells that differentiate into various cell types including [goblet cells](/details-cell/CL0000160), provide a physiologically relevant *in vitro* model. Following knockout, the organoids could be analyzed using a combination of techniques: * **Transcriptomics (RNA-seq):** To assess changes in the expression of mucin genes (e.g., *MUC2*) and other markers of goblet cell differentiation and function. * **Immunofluorescence and Histochemistry:** To visualize goblet cell morphology and quantify mucus production using Alcian Blue staining for acidic mucins. * **Functional Assays:** To measure the rate and quantity of mucus secretion in response to secretagogues like carbachol. **Therapeutic Potential:** The therapeutic potential of [FAM177B](/details-gene/400823) is currently speculative but intriguing. If it is essential for maintaining the gut mucosal barrier, targeted activation or gene therapy could be explored for conditions characterized by barrier defects, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Conversely, if its overexpression is linked to mucus hypersecretion in diseases like mucinous adenocarcinomas or asthma, it could represent a viable target for inhibition. Given that its function is unknown, further research is required to determine whether it is a druggable protein (e.g., an enzyme or receptor) and to validate its role in disease pathology before considering it a therapeutic target.

Genular Protein ID: 3365390690

Symbol: F177B_HUMAN

Name: Protein FAM177B

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

A6PVY3 Q6ZUN8

Database IDs:

AGR 1 AlphaFoldDB 1 Antibodypedia 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 BioMuta 1 CCDS 1 CTD 1 ChiTaRS 1 DNASU 1 EMBL 2 Ensembl 3 ExpressionAtlas 1 GeneCards 1 GeneTree 1 GenomeRNAi 1 GlyCosmos 1 GlyGen 1 HGNC 1 HOGENOM 1 HPA 1 InParanoid 1 IntAct 1 InterPro 1 KEGG 1 MANE-Select 1 MassIVE 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OMA 1 OpenTargets 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PRO 1 PathwayCommons 1 PaxDb 1 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 1 PharmGKB 1 Pharos 1 PhosphoSitePlus 1 PhylomeDB 1 Proteomes 1 RNAct 1 RefSeq 6 STRING 1 SignaLink 1 SwissPalm 1 TreeFam 1 UCSC 1 VEuPathDB 1 eggNOG 1 iPTMnet 1 neXtProt 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 14702039

Title: Complete sequencing and characterization of 21,243 full-length human cDNAs.

PubMed ID: 14702039

DOI: 10.1038/ng1285

PubMed ID: 16710414

Title: The DNA sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1.

PubMed ID: 16710414

DOI: 10.1038/nature04727

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 158
  • Mass: 18145
  • Checksum: 89E4532266015349
  • Sequence:
    • MEIDGFQQLD LEKSVPSKKT TPKRIIHFVD GDIMEEYSTE EEEEEEKEEQ STNSTLDPSK 
LSWGPYLRFW AGRIASTSFS TCEFLGGRFA VFFGLTQPKY QYVLNEFYRI QNKKSDNKSE 
RRGSKAQAAE VPNEKCHLEA GVQEYGTIQQ DVTEAIPQ