ARHGEF9 - Cdc42 Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 9

The protein encoded by this gene is a Rho-like GTPase that switches between the active (GTP-bound) state and inactive (GDP-bound) state to regulate CDC42 and other genes. This brain-specific protein also acts as an adaptor protein for the recruitment of gephyrin and together these proteins facilitate receceptor recruitement in GABAnergic and glycinergic synapses. Defects in this gene are the cause of startle disease with epilepsy (STHEE), also known as hyperekplexia with epilepsy, as well as several other types of cognitive disability. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2017]