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General description of the gene and the encoded protein(s) using information from HGNC and Ensembl, as well as predictions made by the Human Protein Atlas project.
Gene namei
Official gene symbol, which is typically a short form of the gene name, according to HGNC.
Assigned HPA protein class(es) for the encoded protein(s).
Metabolic proteins Transcription factors
Predicted locationi
All transcripts of all genes have been analyzed regarding the location(s) of corresponding protein based on prediction methods for signal peptides and transmembrane regions.
Genes with at least one transcript predicted to encode a secreted protein, according to prediction methods or to UniProt location data, have been further annotated and classified with the aim to determine if the corresponding protein(s) are secreted or actually retained in intracellular locations or membrane-attached.
Remaining genes, with no transcript predicted to encode a secreted protein, will be assigned the prediction-based location(s).
The annotated location overrules the predicted location, so that a gene encoding a predicted secreted protein that has been annotated as intracellular will have intracellular as the final location.
Gene information from Ensembl and Entrez, as well as links to available gene identifiers are displayed here. Information was retrieved from Ensembl if not indicated otherwise.
Chromosome
2
Cytoband
q11.2
Chromosome location (bp)
100820139 - 100996829
Number of transcriptsi
Number of protein-coding transcripts from the gene as defined by Ensembl.
Useful information about the protein provided by UniProt.
Transcriptional activator which forms a core component of the circadian clock. The circadian clock, an internal time-keeping system, regulates various physiological processes through the generation of approximately 24 hour circadian rhythms in gene expression, which are translated into rhythms in metabolism and behavior. It is derived from the Latin roots 'circa' (about) and 'diem' (day) and acts as an important regulator of a wide array of physiological functions including metabolism, sleep, body temperature, blood pressure, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and renal function. Consists of two major components: the central clock, residing in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the brain, and the peripheral clocks that are present in nearly every tissue and organ system. Both the central and peripheral clocks can be reset by environmental cues, also known as Zeitgebers (German for 'timegivers'). The predominant Zeitgeber for the central clock is light, which is sensed by retina and signals directly to the SCN. The central clock entrains the peripheral clocks through neuronal and hormonal signals, body temperature and feeding-related cues, aligning all clocks with the external light/dark cycle. Circadian rhythms allow an organism to achieve temporal homeostasis with its environment at the molecular level by regulating gene expression to create a peak of protein expression once every 24 hours to control when a particular physiological process is most active with respect to the solar day. Transcription and translation of core clock components (CLOCK, NPAS2, BMAL1, BMAL2, PER1, PER2, PER3, CRY1 and CRY2) plays a critical role in rhythm generation, whereas delays imposed by post-translational modifications (PTMs) are important for determining the period (tau) of the rhythms (tau refers to the period of a rhythm and is the length, in time, of one complete cycle). A diurnal rhythm is synchronized with the day/night cycle, while the ultradian and infradian rhythms have a period shorter and longer than 24 hours, respectively. Disruptions in the circadian rhythms contribute to the pathology of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, metabolic syndromes and aging. A transcription/translation feedback loop (TTFL) forms the core of the molecular circadian clock mechanism. Transcription factors, CLOCK or NPAS2 and BMAL1 or BMAL2, form the positive limb of the feedback loop, act in the form of a heterodimer and activate the transcription of core clock genes and clock-controlled genes (involved in key metabolic processes), harboring E-box elements (5'-CACGTG-3') within their promoters. The core clock genes: PER1/2/3 and CRY1/2 which are transcriptional repressors form the negative limb of the feedback loop and interact with the CLOCK|NPAS2-BMAL1|BMAL2 heterodimer inhibiting its activity and thereby negatively regulating their own expression. This heterodimer also activates nuclear receptors NR1D1/2 and RORA/B/G, which form a second feedback loop and which activate and repress BMAL1 transcription, respectively. The NPAS2-BMAL1 heterodimer positively regulates the expression of MAOA, F7 and LDHA and modulates the circadian rhythm of daytime contrast sensitivity by regulating the rhythmic expression of adenylate cyclase type 1 (ADCY1) in the retina. NPAS2 plays an important role in sleep homeostasis and in maintaining circadian behaviors in normal light/dark and feeding conditions and in the effective synchronization of feeding behavior with scheduled food availability. Regulates the gene transcription of key metabolic pathways in the liver and is involved in DNA damage response by regulating several cell cycle and DNA repair genes. Controls the circadian rhythm of NR0B2 expression by binding rhythmically to its promoter (By similarity). Mediates the diurnal variation in the expression of GABARA1 receptor in the brain and contributes to the regulation of anxiety-like behaviors and GABAergic neurotransmission in the ventral striatum (By similarity)....show less
Molecular function (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins due to their particular molecular function.
Activator, DNA-binding
Biological process (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins because they are involved in a particular biological process.
Biological rhythms, DNA damage, Transcription, Transcription regulation
Ligand (UniProt)i
Keywords assigned by UniProt to proteins because they bind, are associated with, or whose activity is dependent of some molecule.
Heme, Iron, Metal-binding
Gene summary (Entrez)i
Useful information about the gene from Entrez
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-PAS family of transcription factors. A similar mouse protein may play a regulatory role in the acquisition of specific types of memory. It also may function as a part of a molecular clock operative in the mammalian forebrain. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]...show less
PROTEIN INFORMATIONi
The protein information section displays alternative protein-coding transcripts (splice variants) encoded by this gene according to the Ensembl database.
The Splice variant identifier links to the Ensembl website protein summary for the selected splice variant. The data in the Swissprot and TrEMBL columns links to corresponding pages in the UniProt database.
The protein classes assigned to this protein are shown if expanding the data in the protein class column. Parent protein classes are in bold font and subclasses are listed under the parent class.
The length of the protein (amino acid residues according to Ensembl), molecular mass (kDalton), predicted signal peptide and number of predicted transmembrane region(s) according to in-house majority decision methods based on sets of predictors are also reported.
Q99743 [Direct mapping] Neuronal PAS domain-containing protein 2
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A2I2P5 [Target identity:100%; Query identity:100%] Neuronal PAS domain protein 2
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Metabolic proteins Predicted intracellular proteins Intracellular proteins predicted by MDM and MDSEC Transcription factors Basic domains Mapped to neXtProt neXtProt - Evidence at protein level Protein evidence (Kim et al 2014)
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GO:0000785[chromatin] GO:0000978[RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding] GO:0000981[DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific] GO:0003677[DNA binding] GO:0003700[DNA-binding transcription factor activity] GO:0005515[protein binding] GO:0005634[nucleus] GO:0005654[nucleoplasm] GO:0005667[transcription regulator complex] GO:0005737[cytoplasm] GO:0005829[cytosol] GO:0006355[regulation of DNA-templated transcription] GO:0006357[regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II] GO:0006974[cellular response to DNA damage stimulus] GO:0007417[central nervous system development] GO:0009410[response to xenobiotic stimulus] GO:0032922[circadian regulation of gene expression] GO:0045739[positive regulation of DNA repair] GO:0045893[positive regulation of DNA-templated transcription] GO:0045944[positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II] GO:0046872[metal ion binding] GO:0046983[protein dimerization activity] GO:0048511[rhythmic process] GO:0051775[response to redox state] GO:0051879[Hsp90 protein binding] GO:0060548[negative regulation of cell death] GO:1990513[CLOCK-BMAL transcription complex] GO:1990837[sequence-specific double-stranded DNA binding] GO:2000987[positive regulation of behavioral fear response] GO:2001020[regulation of response to DNA damage stimulus]