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THBS4 (Thrombospondin 4)

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What is MOCA?
MOCA FAQ...
Human Uniqueness Compared to "Great Apes": 
Likely Difference
MOCA Domain: 
Genetics
MOCA Topic Authors: 
Majesta O'Bleness
James Sikela

Thrombospondin 4 (THBS4) is an extracellular-matrix glycoprotein that mediates cell adhesion, proliferation, and motility. In brain, THBS4 has been implicated in neurite growth and can elicit synaps formation. THBS4 shows significantly higher expression levels in the human adult cortex than in other primates and this change has been hypothesized to have played a role in humans have increased synaptic density and increased rates of neurite growth. THBS4 also has been shown to accumulate in amyloid plaques and has been suggested to increase human susceptibility to developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Genetics Topic Attributes

Gene symbols follow the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee standard.

Gene Symbol:
THBS4 (THBS4: thrombospondin 4)
Type of Human-Specific Changes:
Expression Pattern Change
Related MOCA Topics
Related Topics:
TitleCertainty
Alzheimer's Pathology (Neurofibrillary Tangles)Speculative
Cortical Synapse DensitySpeculative
Timing

Timing of Appearance of the Difference in the Hominin Lineage.

For this entry assume that

  • the common ancestor of humans and old world monkeys was 25000 thousand (25 million) years ago
  • the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees was 6000 thousand (6 million) years ago
  • the emergence of the genus Homo was 2000 thousand (2 million) years ago
  • the common ancestor of modern humans was 100 thousand years ago

 

Definite Appearance: 
6000 Thousand Years
References: 

Cáceres M, Suwyn C, Maddox M, Thomas JW, Preuss TM (2007) Increased cortical expression of two synaptogenic thrombospondins in human brain evolution. Cereb Cortex. 17(10):2312-21. PMID: 17182969

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