This family includes FAM171A1, FAM171A2 and FAM171B. FAM171A1 is a type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein also known as astroprincin (APCN) due to its abundant expression in astrocytes. APCN is also expressed in placental trophoblasts, skeletal and heart muscle, kidney and pancreas []. APCN is involved in the regulation of the cytoskeletal dynamics, playing a role in actin stress fibre formation. The APCN gene is located on chromosome 10p13, a region that is deleted in DiGeorge type 2 and velocardiofacial syndromes.
