Kalirin [SEP] found in taxon
guanine nucleotide exchange factor. 
It is named after the multiple-handed Hindu goddess Kali for its ability to interact with numerous other proteins. Kalirin's other name, DUO, comes from the fact that it is 98% identical to rat DUO protein and 80.6% identical to a human protein named TRIO. Unlike TRIO, which is expressed in numerous tissues, Kalirin isoforms are mainly found in the brain.
Clinical significance.
Several isoforms of Kalirin are produced through alternative splicing. One of the isoforms, Kalirin-7,
was found to be necessary for the remodeling of synapses in mature cortical neurons and is thought to be important in the development of schizophrenia, as demonstrated by adolescent development of schizophrenia-like symptoms in kalirin knockout mice. Alzheimer's disease may also be linked to kalirin-7.
External links.
- Traffic jam in brain causes schizophrenia symptoms
- Architect of Synaptic Plasticity Links Spine Form and Function - Schizophrenia Research Forum, 2007-11-30