title: A novel family of single VWC-domain proteins in invertebrates.
abstract: Using a combination of sequence analysis tools, a novel family of 13 short Drosophila melanogaster proteins with similarity to a single von Willebrand factor C-domain (SVC proteins) has been identified. SVCs are predicted to be secreted and a structural model for the family is proposed, using a known von Willebrand factor C-domain (VWC) structure as template. All SVCs possess eight cysteines, consistent with the loss of one bonded pair from the 10-cysteine canonical pattern of most VWC domains. Unlike most Drosophila genes, many SVCs are not expressed during development, and misexpression has no apparent effect on development or viability. SVCs appear to be restricted to arthropods. A role for SVCs in response to environmental challenges is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Mathematical Biology, National Institute of Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK. tsheldon@nimr.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miguel-Aliaga
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conklin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014841:von Willebrand Factor