====== CD20 ======


B-[[lymphocyte]] antigen CD20 or CD20 is an activated-glycosylated [[phosphoprotein]] expressed on the surface of all [[B-cell]]s beginning at the pro-B phase (CD45R+, CD117+) and progressively increasing in concentration until maturity.

In humans CD20 is encoded by the MS4A1 gene.

This gene encodes a member of the membrane-spanning 4A gene family. Members of this nascent protein family are characterized by common structural features and similar intron/exon splice boundaries and display unique expression patterns among hematopoietic cells and nonlymphoid tissues. This gene encodes a B-lymphocyte surface molecule that plays a role in the development and differentiation of B-cells into plasma cells. This family member is localized to 11q12, among a cluster of family members. Alternative splicing of this gene results in two transcript variants that encode the same protein.