title: Cloning, expression, and initial characterization of a novel cytokine-like gene family.
abstract: We report the identification and characterization of a novel cytokine-like gene family using structure-based methods to search for novel four-helix-bundle cytokines in genomics databases. There are four genes in this family, FAM3A, FAM3B, FAM3C, and FAM3D, each encoding a protein (224-235 amino acids) with a hydrophobic leader sequence. Northern analysis indicates that FAM3B is highly expressed in pancreas, FAM3D in placenta, and FAM3A and FAM3C in almost all tissues. Immunohistochemistry showed that FAM3A is expressed prominently in the vascular endothelium, particularly capillaries. We found that FAM3A and FAM3B protein were both localized to the islets of Langerhans of the endocrine pancreas. Recombinant FAM3B protein has delayed effects on beta-cell function, inhibiting basal insulin secretion from a beta-cell line in a dose-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406, USA. yuan_zhu-1@gsk.com
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sweitzer
authors.forename: Xiaotong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mirabile
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Rogely
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boyce
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Erding
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Livi
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Sherin S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abdel-Meguid
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Rejeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aurora
authors.forename: Preston
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hensley
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D019295:Computational Biology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D005810:Multigene Family
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin