title: Identification of a novel human DDX40gene, a new member of the DEAH-box protein family.
abstract: The DExH/D-box superfamily of RNA helicases seems to play key roles during RNA metabolism, such as pre-mRNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis, and others. We have cloned a new gene of the DEAH-box protein subgroup, designated DDX40 (DEAD/H-box polypeptide 40 gene). DDX40 contains 3656 nucleotides and codes for a putative 779-amino-acid protein. Sequence analysis of the cDNA product revealed that it contained a DEAH (Asp-Glu-Ala-His) sequence motif and other conserved motifs. The DDX40 protein shared 53% and 43% amino acid identity with human DDX8 and yeast Drh1, respectively, in the conserved region. Northern blot analysis showed that DDX40 was expressed ubiquitously in the eight tissues examined, implying a general physiological function of the protein. We speculate that, like other members of the DExH/D-box superfamily, DDX40 may play roles in pre-mRNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis and other RNA processing functions.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chengzhi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yueqiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Qihan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yumin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C475473:DHX40 protein, human; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases