The PRICKLE1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called prickle homolog 1. The function of this protein is unclear, although it appears to play an important role in the development of the nervous system. Prickle homolog 1 is likely part of a chemical signaling pathway known as noncanonical Wnt signaling. During development before birth, noncanonical Wnt signaling helps to determine the position of various components within cells (cell polarity). This pathway also regulates the movement of nerve cells (neurons) in the developing nervous system.

Studies suggest that prickle homolog 1 interacts with other proteins, including RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST). The REST protein regulates several critical genes in neurons by turning off (suppressing) their activity. To regulate these genes, REST must enter the nucleus and attach (bind) to particular regions of DNA. Researchers believe that prickle homolog 1 controls REST by transporting it out of the nucleus, which prevents it from binding to DNA and suppressing gene activity. It remains unclear how the interaction between prickle homolog 1 and REST contributes to the normal development of the nervous system.

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

• Tests of PRICKLE1

Scientific Articles on PubMed

• PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

• PRICKLE PLANAR CELL POLARITY PROTEIN 1; PRICKLE1

Gene and Variant Databases

• NCBI Gene
• ClinVar

• Bassuk AG, Wallace RH, Buhr A, Buller AR, Afawi Z, Shimojo M, Miyata S, Chen S, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Griesbach HL, Wu S, Nashelsky M, Vladar EK, Antic D, Ferguson PJ, Cirak S, Voit T, Scott MP, Axelrod JD, Gurnett C, Daoud AS, Kivity S, Neufeld MY, Mazarib A, Straussberg R, Walid S, Korczyn AD, Slusarski DC, Berkovic SF, El-Shanti HI. A homozygous mutation in human PRICKLE1 causes an autosomal-recessive progressive myoclonus epilepsy-ataxia syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2008 Nov;83(5):572-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2008.10.003. Epub 2008 Oct 30. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Katoh M, Katoh M. Identification and characterization of human PRICKLE1 and PRICKLE2 genes as well as mouse Prickle1 and Prickle2 genes homologous to Drosophila tissue polarity gene prickle. Int J Mol Med. 2003 Feb;11(2):249-56. Citation on PubMed
• Shimojo M, Hersh LB. Characterization of the REST/NRSF-interacting LIM domain protein (RILP): localization and interaction with REST/NRSF. J Neurochem. 2006 Feb;96(4):1130-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03608.x. Epub 2006 Jan 17. Citation on PubMed
• Shimojo M, Hersh LB. REST/NRSF-interacting LIM domain protein, a putative nuclear translocation receptor. Mol Cell Biol. 2003 Dec;23(24):9025-31. doi: 10.1128/MCB.23.24.9025-9031.2003. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
• Tao H, Manak JR, Sowers L, Mei X, Kiyonari H, Abe T, Dahdaleh NS, Yang T, Wu S, Chen S, Fox MH, Gurnett C, Montine T, Bird T, Shaffer LG, Rosenfeld JA, McConnell J, Madan-Khetarpal S, Berry-Kravis E, Griesbach H, Saneto RP, Scott MP, Antic D, Reed J, Boland R, Ehaideb SN, El-Shanti H, Mahajan VB, Ferguson PJ, Axelrod JD, Lehesjoki AE, Fritzsch B, Slusarski DC, Wemmie J, Ueno N, Bassuk AG. Mutations in prickle orthologs cause seizures in flies, mice, and humans. Am J Hum Genet. 2011 Feb 11;88(2):138-49. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.12.012. Epub 2011 Feb 3. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central