The human Pim-2 proto-oncogene and its testicular expression.
In this study we describe the cloning of a human gene, encoding a protein that shares 90% identity and 93% similarity at the primary structure level, with the mouse Pim-2 gene. The gene was designated hPim-2. Structural features suggest that like the mouse Pim-2, hPim-2 is also a serine threonine kinase. At the RNA level, two hPim-2 transcripts were identified. The first, 2.2 kb, is highly expressed in hematopoietic tissues and in leukemic and lymphoma cell lines (K-562, HL-60 and RAJI). It also shows considerable high levels in testis, small intestine, colon and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (SW480). A second transcript, 5.0 kb in size, could be detected only in spleen, thymus, small intestine and colon and in the K-562 and RAJI cell lines. In situ hybridization analysis of biopsies taken from testes of men with complete or partial spermatogenesis revealed that the gene is expressed in primary spermatocytes. In the absence of germ cells, signal could be detected over specific cells in the well developed interstitial region. These results suggest a role for hPim-2 in proliferating cells as well as during meiosis. A possible connection between hPim-2 and apoptosis is discussed.
Baytel
D
D
Department of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel.
Shalom
S
S
Madgar
I
I
Weissenberg
R
R
Don
J
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms; D020014:K562 Cells; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; C490587:PIM2 protein, human; C094167:Pim2 protein, mouse; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases