A novel zinc finger-containing RNA-binding protein conserved from fruitflies to humans

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Genomics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.1997.4704· OSTI ID:530742

Jackson, F R ^[1]; Banfi, S; Guffanti, A ^[2]

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1. Tufts Univ. School of Medicine, Boston, MA (United States)
2. Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Milan (Italy); and others

The Drosophila lark gene encodes an essential RNA-binding protein of the RNA recognition motif (RRM) class that is required during embryonic development. Genetic analysis demonstrates that it also functions as a molecular element of a circadian clock output pathway, mediating the temporal regulation of adult emergence in the fruitfly. We now report the molecular characterization of a human gene with significant similarity to lark. Based on fluorescence in situ hybridization and radiation hybrid mapping, the human gene has been localized to chromosome region 11q13; it is closely linked to several identified genes including the locus of Bardet-Biedl syndrome type 1. The lark-homologous human gene expresses a single 1.8-kb size class of mRNA in most or all tissues including brain. Additional database searches have identified a mouse counterpart that is virtually identical to the human protein. Similar to lark protein, both mammalian proteins contain two copies of the RRM-type consensus RNA-binding motif. Unlike most RRM family members, however, the Drosophila and mammalian proteins also contain a retroviral-type (RT) zinc finger that is situated 43 residues C-terminal to the second RRM element. Within a 184-residue segment spanning the RRM elements and the RT zinc finger, the human and mouse proteins are 61% similar to the Drosophila lark sequence. These common sequence features and comparisons among a large collection of RRM proteins suggest that the human and mouse proteins represent homologues of Drosophila lark. 44 refs., 5 figs.

• OSTI ID: 530742
• Journal Information: Genomics, Journal Name: Genomics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 41; ISSN 0888-7543; ISSN GNMCEP
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
B CODES
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DNA SEQUENCING
DNA-CLONING
DROSOPHILA
FLUORESCENCE
GENE REGULATION
GENES
GENETIC MAPPING
HEREDITARY DISEASES
HUMAN CHROMOSOMES
IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION
MESSENGER-RNA
MICE
ONTOGENESIS
PATIENTS
PROBES
PROTEINS
RADIATION INDUCED MUTANTS
STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION