GUCY2C

Guanylate cyclase 2C (GUCY2C), also known as guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C), DIAR6, GUC2C, MECIL, MUCIL, or the heat-stable enterotoxin receptor (hSTAR), was originally identified as a tissue-specific transmembrane receptor for the Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxins. It is reported that E. coli enterotoxin remarkably stimulates the accumulation of cGMP in mammalian cells expressing guanylate cyclase 2C, and knockout mice deficient in the GUCY2C gene do not show secretory diarrhea on infection with E. coli.

GUCY2C is predominantly expressed on apical brush border membranes of intestinal enterocytes,
playing an important role in orchestrating intestinal homeostatic mechanisms. These effects are mediated by the endogenous hormones guanylin (GUCA2A) and uroguanylin (GUCA2B), which bind and activate GUCY2C to regulate proliferation, metabolism and barrier function in intestine. Mutations in GUCY2C gene can cause familial diarrhea (autosomal dominant) and meconium ileus (autosomal recessive) and GUCY2C silencing by the near universal loss of its paracrine hormone ligands increases colon cancer susceptibility in animals and humans.

Gene ID: 2984
UniProt ID: P25092