Protocadherin Gamma A8 (PCDHgA8)

PCDHGA8 is 1 of 22 tandemly arranged genes within the PCDHG gene cluster on chromosome 5q31. The 22 PCDHG genes function as 'variable' exons that are individually spliced to a downstream constant region to form distinct PCDHG transcripts. The variable PCDHG exons encode the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the protocadherin protein, and the common region encodes the intracellular domain .

By screening a brain cDNA library for genes with the potential to encode large proteins, Nagase et al. (1997) identified a cDNA encoding PCDHGA8, which they termed KIAA0327. The 820-amino acid protein was predicted to be involved in cell signaling. RT-PCR analysis detected weak expression in placenta and kidney.