Hash4, a novel human achaete-scute homologue found in fetal skin.
To find additional members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein family in human, the bioinformatic tools provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information was used for homology searches through databases. We report the identification and cloning of a new, fourth member in the achaete-scute complex family of genes, Hash4 or Ascl4, which maps to chromosome 12q24.1. The bHLH domain of the putative HASH4 protein shows most identity to HASH3/ASCL3. The expression of Hash4 and Hash3 was analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in a panel of different human tissues and cells. Expression of Hash3 was detected in all samples tested, while the expression of Hash4 was restricted to skin. Quantification of the Hash4 expression by real-time PCR revealed a 7-fold higher expression in fetal skin compared to adult skin. Our results suggest HASH4 to be involved in skin development.
Research Center for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, the Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, S-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Marianne
M
Jonsson
Elisabeth
E
Björntorp Mark
Camilla
C
Brantsing
Johanna M
JM
Brandner
Anders
A
Lindahl
Julia
J
Asp
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002881:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 / Q000235:genetics; D019295:Computational Biology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C499124:ASCL3 protein, human; C499123:ASCL4 protein, human