Cloning and characterization of a novel human transcription factor AP-2 beta like gene (TFAP2BL1)

The AP-2 transcription factor has been shown to play an important role in development, morphogenesis, apoptosis, cell-cycle control and has also been implicated in mammary oncogenesis. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a novel human transcription factor AP-2 like gene (TFAP2BL1), which is located on human chromosome 6p12.1-21.1. The TFAP2BL1 cDNA is 2076 base pairs in length, encoding a 452-amino acid polypeptide related to human Ap-2protein. TFAP2BL1 gene has significantly high homology to transcription factor AP-2 gene of human, mouse, chicken, sheep, fruit fly, and C. elegans at amino acid level. RT-PCR analysis shows its relatively high expression level in adult thymus, prostate, small intestine, skeletal muscle, placenta, brain, and testis tissues.