Full name: chitinase 1

Gene type: protein coding

RefSeq status: REVIEWED

Also known as: CHI3; CHIT; CHITD

Summary: Chitotriosidase is secreted by activated human macrophages and is markedly elevated in plasma of Gaucher disease patients. The expression of chitotriosidase occurs only at a late stage of differentiation of monocytes to activated macrophages in culture. Human macrophages can synthesize a functional chitotriosidase, a highly conserved enzyme with a strongly regulated expression. This enzyme may play a role in the degradation of chitin-containing pathogens. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2012]

Expression: Biased expression in bone marrow (RPKM 24.2), lung (RPKM 14.0) and 1 other tissue

Gene size: 14021bp

Exon count: 14