Membrane-spanning 4A genes are members of the CD20-like family. The MS4A genes are usually organized in a single genomic clusters in mammals, suggestive of gene duplication events. MS4A genes encode a class of four-transmembrane spanning proteins. MS4A genes have been described to act as a specific kind of olfactory receptor in the necklace olfactory sensory neurons in mice (Mus musculus).Greer PL, Bear DM, Lassance JM, Bloom ML, Tsukahara T, Pashkovski SL, Masuda FK, Nowlan AC, Kirchner R, Hoekstra HE, et al. 2016. A family of non-GPCR chemosensors defines an alternative logic for mammalian olfaction. Cell. 165:1734–1748. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.05.001.
In human (Homo sapiens) the members of this family include: MS4A1 (better known as "CD20") MS4A2 MS4A3 MS4A4A MS4A4E MS4A5 MS4A6A MS4A6E MS4A7 MS4A8 MS4A9 MS4A10 MS4A12 MS4A13 MS4A14 MS4A15 MS4A18
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