CXADR Gene: Function, Expression, and Disease Associations | Biomedical Database

The CXADR gene encodes the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), a type I transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. CAR serves as the primary receptor for coxsackie B viruses and adenoviruses, facilitating viral entry into host cells. Beyond its role in viral infection, CAR is involved in cell-cell adhesion, particularly in epithelial and cardiac tissues, and plays a critical role in the development and function of the heart, immune system, and epithelial barriers. The protein is localized at tight junctions and adherens junctions, where it mediates homophilic and heterophilic interactions. CXADR is also implicated in various cancers, where its expression can influence tumor progression and metastasis.

Tissue Expression

Cell Line Expression

Hotspot Mutations

Mutation functional classification

• Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs)

• Viral entry into host cell

• Tight junction signaling

• Adherens junction signaling

The CAR protein is a 365-amino acid type I membrane protein with an extracellular region containing two immunoglobulin-like domains (IgV and IgC2), a single transmembrane helix, and a cytoplasmic tail. It forms homodimers and interacts with other proteins such as ZO-1 and β-catenin, linking it to the actin cytoskeleton. CAR is essential for normal cardiac development, as knockout mice exhibit embryonic lethality due to heart defects. In adults, CAR is expressed in epithelial cells, cardiomyocytes, and immune cells, where it maintains tissue integrity and modulates immune responses. Its role as a viral receptor is exploited in gene therapy using adenoviral vectors, but its expression can also contribute to viral pathogenesis.