Cloning and characterization of cDNAs for novel proteins with glutamic acid-proline dipeptide tandem repeats

cDNAs with identical 3' sequences containing a hexanucleotide repeat -(GAGCCG)9- were isolated from rat pheochromocytoma and brain cDNA libraries. The cDNA with the longest open reading frame codes for a protein of 24.6 kDa containing a 16-fold -(Glu-Pro)- dipeptide repeat within a glutamate and proline rich region at its deduced C-terminus. cDNAs with the identical 3' sequence and a divergent 5' sequence were isolated from a rat skeletal muscle cDNA library. The latter are predicted to code for a protein of 15.5 kDa with a C-terminal repetitive domain identical to that in the pheochromocytoma and brain cDNAs. The cDNAs recognize a 1.8 kb mRNA species present in a variety of tissues, being particularly abundant in cardiac and skeletal muscle.