Involved in the regulation of both adhesion and cell morphology and cancer progression. Functions as an anti-adhesive molecule that maintains an open filtration pathway between neighboring foot processes in the podocyte by charge repulsion. Acts as a pro-adhesive molecule, enhancing the adherence of cells to immobilized ligands, increasing the rate of migration and cell-cell contacts in an integrin-dependent manner. Induces the formation of apical actin-dependent microvilli. Involved in the formation of a preapical plasma membrane subdomain to set up initial epithelial polarization and the apical lumen formation during renal tubulogenesis. Plays a role in cancer development and aggressiveness by inducing cell migration and invasion through its interaction with the actin-binding protein EZR. Affects EZR-dependent signaling events, leading to increased activities of the MAPK and PI3K pathways in cancer cells.

1. podocalyxin has a role in defining the structure of the podocyte basal surface PMID: 15226400
2. Podocalyxin might be associated with the malignant progression of astrocytic tumors, and be a useful prognostic marker for astrocytic tumors. PMID: 18639524
3. Report ubiquitous yet distinct expression of podocalyxin on vascular surfaces in normal and tumor tissues in the rat. PMID: 19142011

Apical cell membrane. Cell projection, microvillus. Membrane raft. Cell projection, lamellipodium. Cell projection, filopodium. Cell projection, ruffle. Membrane; Single-pass type I membrane protein.

Podocalyxin family

Glomerular epithelium cell (podocyte) (at protein level).

KEGG: rno:192181

STRING: 10116.ENSRNOP00000016991

UniGene: Rn.162741