CORIN

Corin, also called atrial natriuretic peptide-converting enzyme, is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the CORIN is_associated_with::gene.

Protein
The CORIN gene encodes a member of the type II transmembrane serine protease class of the trypsin superfamily. Members of this family are composed of multiple structurally distinct domains.

Human corin, a polypeptide of 1042 is_associated_with::amino acids, consists of an N-terminal cytoplasmic domain, a transmembrane domain and an extracellular region with two frizzled-like domains, eight LDL receptor-like domains, a scavenger receptor-like domain and a C-terminal trypsin-like serine protease domain.

Corin exhibits a is_associated_with::trypsin-like catalytic activity favoring basic residues at the P1 position.

Human corin contains 19 N-glycosylation sites. N-glycans promote corin expression on the cell surface and protect corin from is_associated_with::metalloproteinase-mediated shedding.

Function
Corin converts the is_associated_with::atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) precursor, pro-ANP, to mature ANP, a cardiac is_associated_with::hormone that regulates salt-water balance and blood pressure. In mice, corin deficiency prevents pro-ANP processing and causes salt-sensitive hypertension.

Corin may also function as a pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide convertase.

Corin-mediated ANP production in the pregnant uterus promotes spiral artery remodeling and trophoblast invasion. CORIN mutations have been reported in patients with is_associated_with::preeclampsia.

In mice, corin functions in the dermal papilla to regulate coat color in an is_associated_with::Agouti-dependent pathway.

Variants and mutations
Variants encoded by alternative exons were reported in human and mouse corin. A variant allele (T555I/Q568P) was found in African Americans with is_associated_with::hypertension and is_associated_with::cardiac hypertrophy. The amino acid substitutions impaired corin activity. An insertion variant in exon 1 alters the cytoplasmic tail. This variant appeared more frequently in hypertensive patients. CORIN mutations were found in patients with hypertension.