title: Characterization of a cDNA encoding a protein involved in formation of the skeleton during development of the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus.
abstract: In order to investigate the role of proteins in the formation of mineralized tissues during development, we have isolated a cDNA that encodes a protein that is a component of the organic matrix of the skeletal spicule of the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus. The expression of the RNA encoding this protein is regulated over development and is localized to the descendents of the micromere lineage. Comparison of the sequence of this cDNA to homologous cDNAs from other species of urchin reveal that the protein is basic and contains three conserved structural motifs: a signal peptide, a proline-rich region, and an unusual region composed of a series of direct repeats. Studies on the protein encoded by this cDNA confirm the predicted reading frame deduced from the nucleotide sequence and show that the protein is secreted and not glycosylated. Comparison of the amino acid sequence to databases reveal that the repeat domain is similar to proteins that form a unique beta-spiral supersecondary structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wilt
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D006031:Glycosylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C051691:SM50 protein, sea urchin; D004247:DNA