Ulip6, a novel unc-33 and dihydropyrimidinase related protein highly expressed in developing rat brain

Here, we report the identification of Ulip6, a novel unc-33 and dihydropyrimidinase related protein that belongs to the Ulip/CRMP protein family. Ulip6 was found in a yeast two-hybrid screen using the neuronal glycine transporter GlyT2 as bait. The rat and human Ulip6 sequences are highly homologous and most closely related to the liver enzyme dihydropyrimidinase (Ulip5). Northern and Western analysis of rat tissues revealed that the distribution of the Ulip6 mRNA and protein resembles those of brain-type Ulip proteins. Like Ulip1-4, Ulip6 is highly expressed in embryonic and early postnatal brain and spinal cord. These findings are consistent with Ulip6 having a function in neuronal differentiation and/or axon growth.