title: MERP1: a mammalian ependymin-related protein gene differentially expressed in hematopoietic cells.
abstract: We have utilized differential display polymerase chain reaction to investigate the gene expression of hematopoietic progenitor cells from adult bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. A differentially expressed gene was identified in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, with low expression in CD34- cells. We have obtained the full coding sequence of this gene which we designated human mammalian ependymin-related protein 1 (MERP1). Expression of MERP1 was found in a variety of normal human tissues, and is 4- and 10-fold higher in adult bone marrow and umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells, respectively, compared to CD34- cells. Additionally, MERP1 expression in a hematopoietic stem cell enriched population was down-regulated with proliferation and differentiation. Conceptual translation of the MERP1 open reading frame reveals significant homology to two families of glycoprotein calcium-dependant cell adhesion molecules: ependymins and protocadherins.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Laboratory, The Douglas Hocking Research Institute, Barwon Health, The Geelong Hospital, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. claudiag@barwonhealth.org.au
authors.forename: Claudia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gregorio-King
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: Fiona McL
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Karyn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Gavin J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Van Der Meer
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Apostolopoulos
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kirkland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / Q000235:genetics; D019295:Computational Biology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C456603:EPDR1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins