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Cloning of a new human gene with short consensus repeats using the EST database
M Nangaku1, S J Shankland, K Kurokawa
1Division of Nephrology, Box 356 521, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Immunogenetics
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Researchers discovered a new human complement regulatory protein, THECY, using the expressed sequence tag (EST) database. This membrane-bound protein features unique six-cysteine motifs and is widely expressed, though its function requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The complement system is crucial for humoral immunity and inflammation.
- Complement regulatory proteins control the complement system.
- Short consensus repeats (SCRs) are common structural motifs in these proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel human complement regulatory proteins.
- To characterize a newly discovered gene with potential regulatory functions.
Main Methods:
- Expressed sequence tag (EST) database similarity search using SCR motifs.
- Full-length cDNA isolation from a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) library.
- Gene sequencing, protein structural analysis, and Northern blot analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified a novel human gene encoding a 461 amino acid protein, named THECY.
- THECY possesses three SCRs with a unique six-cysteine motif and a transmembrane domain.
- A 2.0 kb transcript for THECY is ubiquitously expressed, with highest abundance in the heart.
Conclusions:
- Discovered a new class of membrane-bound, SCR-containing molecules.
- The EST database is a valuable tool for identifying new immunological proteins.
- The precise function of THECY remains to be elucidated.