title: Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a novel fatty acid binding protein from rat brain.
abstract: We have adopted a polymerase chain reaction approach to identify and clone a cDNA that contains the complete coding sequence of a novel fatty acid binding protein (FABP) from a rat brain lambda gt10 library. Sequencing of the brain FABP (B-FABP) cDNA revealed an open reading frame coding for a protein with 132 amino acids and a predicted size of approximately 15,000 Da. This putative protein shares extensive sequence homology with other members of the FABP family. Northern blot analysis using the B-FABP cDNA as a probe established the presence of an abundant mRNA approximately 0.8 kb long in rat brain and in the MOCH-1 oligodendrocyte cell line. This transcript was also present in rat liver but not in other tissues examined. A developmental profile of this mRNA in rat brain demonstrated detectable expression in 15-day-old embryos with levels peaking in 1-day postnatal neonates and declining thereafter, reaching a low steady-state level at 3 weeks of age. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed B-FABP mRNA in various brain regions, with the highest levels in fiber tracts. The B-FABP message was also detected at a lower level in several gray matter regions. The cloning approach used in this study would likely be useful in the identification and isolation of FABP-encoding genes from other tissues and species.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Development Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7250.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Stenvers
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popko
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D002417:Cattle; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C082667:Fabp5 protein, mouse; C086936:Fabp7 protein, mouse; C490174:Fabp7 protein, rat; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger