title: Identification and characterization of the STIM (stromal interaction molecule) gene family: coding for a novel class of transmembrane proteins.
abstract: STIM1 (where STIM is stromal interaction molecule) is a candidate tumour suppressor gene that maps to human chromosome 11p15.5, a region implicated in a variety of cancers, particularly embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. STIM1 codes for a transmembrane phosphoprotein whose structure is unrelated to that of any other known proteins. The precise pathway by which STIM1 regulates cell growth is not known. In the present study we screened gene databases for STIM1-related sequences, and have identified and characterized cDNA sequences representing a single gene in humans and other vertebrates, which we have called STIM2. We identified a single STIM homologue in Drosophila melanogaster (D-Stim) and Caenorhabditis elegans, but no homologues in yeast. STIM1, STIM2 and D-Stim have a conserved genomic organization, indicating that the vertebrate family of two STIM genes most probably arose from a single ancestral gene. The three STIM proteins each contain a single SAM (sterile alpha-motif) domain and an unpaired EF hand within the highly conserved extracellular region, and have coiled-coil domains that are conserved in structure and position within the cytoplasmic region. However, the STIM proteins diverge significantly within the C-terminal half of the cytoplasmic domain. Differential levels of phosphorylation appear to account for two molecular mass isoforms (105 and 115 kDa) of STIM2. We demonstrate by mutation analysis and protein sequencing that human STIM2 initiates translation exclusively from a non-AUG start site in vivo. STIM2 is expressed ubiquitously in cell lines, and co-precipitates with STIM1 from cell lysates. This association into oligomers in vivo indicates a possible functional interaction between STIM1 and STIM2. The structural similarities between STIM1, STIM2 and D-STIM suggest conserved biological functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. R.Williams@anatomy.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Manji
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Stekelenburg
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Senior
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kazenwadel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shandala
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saint
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dziadek
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D018387:Codon, Initiator; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D000071737:Stromal Interaction Molecule 1; D000071738:Stromal Interaction Molecule 2
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018387:Codon, Initiator; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C103530:STIM1 protein, human; C513279:STIM2 protein, human; D000071737:Stromal Interaction Molecule 1; D000071738:Stromal Interaction Molecule 2