Identification of a novel putative Ran-binding protein and its close homologue

In the process of cloning genes at the breakpoint of t(5;14) (q34;q11), a recurring translocation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we isolated and characterized a novel gene at 5q34, and a close human homologue (66% amino acid identity) located at 8p11-12. The presence of an importin-beta N-terminal domain at their N-terminus, their size of approximately 110 kD, their nuclear localization and the identity of the homologue to a gene of a recently submitted RanGTP binding protein (RanBP16), suggest that its protein is a novel member of the importin-beta superfamily of nuclear transport receptors, therefore called RanBP17. Northern blot analysis of human tissues revealed a ubiquitous expression pattern of the RanBP16 gene and a very restricted expression pattern of the RanBP17 gene, showing high expression in testis and pancreas. Both genes are evolutionary conserved and show a high (99 and 94%) amino acid conservation with their murine counterparts and a striking similarity (40%) to a protein product of Caenorhabditis elegans (C35A5.8).