Best Protein Ever?

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

I just found out about Pikachurin (no joke).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18641643
http://inventorspot.com/articles/lightningfast_vision_protein_named_after_pikachu_16170
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikachurin

The protein is colocalized with both dystrophin and dystroglycan at the ribbon synapses.

Function

Pikachurin, along with laminin, perlecan, agrin, neurexin, binds to α-dystroglycan in the extracellular space. As such, pikachurin, as well as the other previously-mentioned proteins, is necessary for the proper functioning of dystroglycan. Pikachurin is necessary for the apposition of presynaptic and postsynaptic termini in the ribbon synapse; deletion of pikachurin causes an abnormal electroretinogram, similarly to the deletion of nestin.

Discovery and Naming

Pikachurin is an extracellular matrix-like retinal protein first described in 2008 in Japan by Shigeru Sato et al., and named after Pikachu, a character of the Pokémon franchise.[2] The name of this "nimble" protein was inspired due to Pikachu's "lightning-fast moves and shocking electric effects".

[Clarke]

Here's another one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_hedgehog  (Jump down to section 4.  )

[Swoka Ikran]

Interesting...protein named after Pokemon.

Here's another one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_hedgehog  (Jump down to section 4.  )

Robotnikinin. Name is definitely appropriate though since its an inhibitor of hedgehog.

[Nyx]

Haha cool stuff

This is not a protein, but did you guys hear about Spongiforma squarepantsii? It's a mushroom that soaks up water like a sponge