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DNA sequence and muscle-specific expression of human sarcosin transcripts
1Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, Kansas 67260-0026, USA.
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
|July 9, 1998
Summary
Researchers identified a novel human gene, sarcosin, selectively expressed in skeletal muscle. This gene is conserved across mammals, suggesting an important, yet unknown, function in muscle tissue.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Two abundant human complementary DNAs (cDNAs) were identified.
- These cDNAs showed selective expression in human sarcomeric muscle tissue via Northern hybridization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize novel human cDNAs expressed in sarcomeric muscle.
- To investigate the origin and evolutionary conservation of these novel sequences.
Main Methods:
- Northern hybridization analysis to assess gene expression.
- DNA sequencing to determine cDNA sequences.
- Sequence comparison at DNA and amino acid levels.
- Southern hybridization to evaluate evolutionary conservation.
Main Results:
- Two human cDNAs were found to be selectively expressed in sarcomeric muscle.
- The cDNAs share sequence identity, differing mainly in a 3' untranslated region (UTR) extension, suggesting alternative polyadenylation.
- A large open reading frame of at least 435 codons was identified.
- No significant sequence similarity was found to known sequences, leading to the designation 'sarcosin'.
- Sarcosin sequence conservation was confirmed in several mammalian species via Southern hybridization.
Conclusions:
- A novel human gene, termed sarcosin, has been identified.
- Sarcosin is specifically expressed in sarcomeric muscle and is conserved in mammals.
- The distinct transcripts likely arise from alternative polyadenylation signal usage.