This gene encodes a member of the family of neuronal pentraxins, synaptic proteins that are related to C-reactive protein. This protein is involved in excitatory synapse formation. It also plays a role in clustering of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors at established synapses, resulting in non-apoptotic cell death of dopaminergic nerve cells.[6]
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Marui T, Koishi S, Funatogawa I, et al. (2007). "No association between the neuronal pentraxin II gene polymorphism and autism". Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry. 31 (4): 940–3. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.02.016. PMID17408830. S2CID23877321.
Poulsen TT, Pedersen N, Perin MS, et al. (2006). "Specific sensitivity of small cell lung cancer cell lines to the snake venom toxin taipoxin". Lung Cancer. 50 (3): 329–37. doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2005.06.011. PMID16115696.