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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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GJA4
gap junction protein alpha 4
Chromosome 1 · 1p34.3
NCBI Gene: 2701Ensembl: ENSG00000187513.10HGNC: HGNC:4278UniProt: P35212
103PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
1Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingconnexin complexcell-cell signalinggap junction channel activityliver diseaseneurodegenerative diseaseHepatic hemangiomaskin hemangioma
✦AI Summary

GJA4 encodes connexin 37, a gap junction protein essential for cell-to-cell communication through low molecular weight material diffusion 1. In normal physiology, GJA4 mediates intercellular signaling and is critical for lymphatic valvulogenesis and vascular development 2. The protein functions as both gap junction channels and hemichannels in the vascular endothelium 3. GJA4 mutations have emerged as significant modifiers of human disease. A common SNP (rs41266431) acts as a clinical disease severity modifier in cystic fibrosis, with homozygous G-variant carriers showing reduced pulmonary function and lower survival to end-stage lung disease compared to other carriers 1. Somatic gain-of-function mutations, particularly c.121G>T (p.Gly41Cys), are identified in 75-96% of orbital cavernous venous malformations (OCVM) and 42.5% of intracranial angioleiomyomas, where they form hyperactive hemichannels causing endothelial cell integrity loss 3, 4. This mutation is also found in extra-axial cavernous hemangiomas alongside GNAQ/GNA14 variants 5. Biallelic germline variants are associated with fetal lymphatic dysfunction and abnormal vascular development 2. GJA4 is implicated in nonsyndromic primary ovarian insufficiency through involvement in meiosis and ovarian development pathways 6. These findings establish GJA4 as a critical regulator of vascular integrity and lymphatic development with distinct roles in vascular malformations and systemic diseases.

Sources cited
1
GJA4 SNP rs41266431 acts as a modifier for cystic fibrosis disease severity, with G-variant homozygotes showing reduced pulmonary function and survival
PMID: 35748244
2
Homozygous GJA4 nonsense variants cause fetal lymphatic dysfunction and abnormal vascular development; GJA4 knockout in mice leads to lymphatic system dysfunction and absent venous valves
PMID: 41416265
3
Somatic GJA4 c.121G>T (p.Gly41Cys) gain-of-function mutation identified in 96.2% of orbital cavernous venous malformations; mutation creates hyperactive hemichannels causing endothelial cell integrity loss
PMID: 35902510
4
GJA4 p.Gly41Cys mutation detected in 42.5% of intracranial angioleiomyomas, associated with orbital and cavernous sinus locations and progesterone receptor expression
PMID: 39527131
5
GJA4 mutations identified in 77.4% of extra-axial cavernous hemangiomas alongside GNAQ and GNA14 mutations; involved in angiogenesis pathway upregulation
PMID: 38917801
6
GJA4 listed among genes associated with nonsyndromic primary ovarian insufficiency through involvement in ovarian development and meiosis pathways
PMID: 34794894
Disease Associationsⓘ20
liver diseaseOpen Targets
0.43Moderate
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.37Weak
Hepatic hemangiomaOpen Targets
0.33Weak
skin hemangiomaOpen Targets
0.33Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.10Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
primary ovarian insufficiencyOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
Female infertility due to fertilization defectOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
poisoningOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
gestational diabetesOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Familial hyperprolactinemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
familial hyperprolactinemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
46,XX gonadal dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrestOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hemolytic anemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
oocyte maturation defect 14Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
oocyte maturation defect 5Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants1
NM_002060.3(GJA4):c.121G>T (p.Gly41Cys)Pathogenic
Cutaneous venous malformation|Hepatic hemangioma|Skin hemangioma
☆☆☆☆2021→ Residue 41
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
GJA5Protein interaction100%GJA1Protein interaction94%GJC1Protein interaction78%GJE1Shared pathway67%GJB7Shared pathway67%GJC3Shared pathway67%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Lung
65%
Liver
37%
Ovary
31%
Brain
12%
Bone Marrow
2%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GJA4GJA5GJA1GJC1GJE1GJB7GJC3
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt P35212
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.78LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.03Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.49 [0.32–0.78]
RankingsWhere GJA4 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #4,644of 20,598
    Most Researched103 · top quartile
  • #4,875of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants1
  • #6,418of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.78
Genes detectedGJA4
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10â–¼
1
Genetics of ovarian insufficiency and defects of folliculogenesis.
PMID: 34794894
Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab · 2022
1.00
2
Mannose-Binding Lectin (MBL) and Gap Junction Protein Alpha 4 (GJA4) Gene Heterogeneity in Relation to Severity of Clinical Disease in Cystic Fibrosis.
PMID: 35748244
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) · 2022
0.90
3
Homozygous Nonsense Variant in the GJA4 Gene Associated With Increased Fetal Nuchal Fold Thickness and Abnormal Fetal Ductus Venosus Termination: A Case Report.
PMID: 41416265
Cureus · 2025
0.80
4
A clinicopathological reappraisal of orbital vascular malformations and distinctive GJA4 mutation in cavernous venous malformations.
PMID: 36209871
Hum Pathol · 2022
0.70
5
Intracranial angioleiomyoma mimicking meningioma: an uncommon tumor with favorable outcome and frequent GJA4 mutation.
PMID: 39527131
Neurosurg Rev · 2024
0.60