title: Cloning and expression of a mouse member of the PLUNC protein family exclusively expressed in tongue epithelium.
abstract: Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (Plunc, now renamed Splunc1) is a small secreted protein expressed in the oropharynx and upper airways of humans, mice, rats, and cows. This protein is structurally homologous to known mediators of host defense against gram-negative bacteria. We have characterized the genomic sequence and expression of a novel but closely related gene from rodents, which we call splunc5. Mouse Splunc5 sequence is 60% identical to mouse Splunc1. The genes also share highly conserved genomic elements including intron-exon structure and intronic sequence. Strikingly, splunc5 is expressed exclusively in the interpapillary epithelium of the tongue's dorsal surface. By comparing the expression profiles of splunc5, splunc1, and a third related sequence, lplunc1, in mice, we show that these genes are expressed in unique domains along a continuous corridor of oral, lingual, pharyngeal, and respiratory epithelia. This expression pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that these proteins protect epithelial surfaces colonized by potentially pathogenic microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: LeClair
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nomellini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahena
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bingle
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Craven
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bingle
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005091:Exons; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007438:Introns; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C119074:Bpifa1 protein, mouse; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; C492763:Splunc5 protein, mouse; D012313:RNA