The GARP gene encodes a new member of the family of leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins.

We have characterized a new human gene, named GARP, localized in the 11q14 chromosomal region. GARP comprises two coding exons, is expressed as two major transcripts of 4.4 and 2.8 kilobases, respectively, and encodes a putative transmembrane protein of 662 amino acids, the extracellular portion of which is almost entirely made of leucine-rich repeats. The molecular weight of the protein immunoprecipitated from transfected cells is 80,000. The GARP protein has structural similarities with the human GP Ib alpha and GP V platelet proteins, and with the Chaoptin, Toll, and Connectin adhesion molecules of Drosophila.