Proliferation-linked expression of the novel murine gene m4mbt encoding a nuclear zinc finger protein with four mbt domains.
Here we describe the cloning and characterization of a novel murine gene named m4mbt that encodes a homolog of the lethal (3) malignant brain tumor (l(3)mbt) and Scm proteins. It is localized on mouse chromosome 15E2 and is organized into 17 exons. As demonstrated by Northern blot analysis, m4mbt mRNA is expressed in virtually all tested tissues and cell lines with the exception of stomach and muscle. The m4mbt transcript was most abundant in the testes. m4mbt expression was shown to initiate early during mouse embryonal development (before day 7) and continue until adulthood. The expression of m4mbt mRNA also appears to correlate with cellular proliferation, since we observed down-regulation of m4mbt expression during terminal monocytic differentiation and in contact-inhibited fibroblasts. Computer analysis of the amino acid (aa) sequence revealed that the M4mbt protein comprises an amino-terminally located atypical C2C2 zinc finger and four centrally located mbt repeats. Mbt repeats are also found in proteins of the Polycomb group (PcG) that associate with heterochromatin and function as long-term repressors of transcription. Using Western blot analysis and confocal fluorescent microscopy, we demonstrated that the M4mbt protein is localized in the nucleus. Since M4mbt has structural domains similar to chromatin-associated proteins, its expression is associated with proliferation, and it has a nuclear localization, it may have a regulatory role related to proliferation and/or differentiation.
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Cancer Research Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlárska 7, 833 91, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Jan
J
Markus
Sona
S
Feiková
Marek
M
Sramko
Linda
L
Wolff
Juraj
J
Bies
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005091:Exons; D015870:Gene Expression; D005796:Genes / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007438:Introns; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C480621:m4mbt protein, mouse; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins