title: Cloning, sequencing and expression analysis of a novel gene BR-1 that is expressed in normal human brain tissue but not in glioma tumor samples.
abstract: Using the technique of differential hybridization of a human fetal brain library, we identified a novel gene, brain 1 (BR-1). This gene is expressed in normal brain but has low or no expression in human gliomas. We have cloned and sequenced the full-length cDNA corresponding to this gene. A data base search for the nucleotide sequence homology was performed for BR-1. The BR-1 sequence showed strong homology to a human genomic clone from chromosome 2. Moderate sequence homology was observed between BR-1 and an expressed sequence tag (EST) from a human placenta library. Three different regions of BR-1 also showed homology to a mouse EST that is similar to EL-10 gene. Sequence analysis indicated that the protein sequence for BR-1 has one tyrosine kinase phosphorylation site and two N-myristoylation sites. Northern blot analysis indicated that the BR-1 gene is expressed in heart, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas. A low level of expression of BR-1 is observed in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, spinal cord, occipital lobe and putamen. The BR-1 gene is also expressed in fetal brain, liver and kidney. Low expression of BR-1 gene was observed in a number of non-brain tumor cell lines. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the BR-1 gene was expressed in non-neoplastic (epilepsy specimens) but not in six oligodendrogliomas and three oligoastrocytoma tumor samples analyzed. BR-1 was not expressed in either seven low grade gliomas or eight grade IV glioblastoma tumor tissue samples analyzed. Three glioblastoma cell lines did show low expression of the BR-1 gene. On the basis of its expression properties, we conclude that BR-1 is a potential novel tumor suppressor gene.
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 1st Division of Neurosurgery, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Mitchel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sehgal
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015870:Gene Expression; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D050809:POU Domain Factors
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000589675:POU3F3 protein, human; D050809:POU Domain Factors