[Cloning of Rcet3, a novel gene related to family 2 cystatins].
OBJECTIVE
To clone the full-length Rcet3 gene, a novel gene related to family 2 cystatins, from mouse testis or other tissues.


METHODS
Rcet3 gene was cloned using digital differential display (DDD) and RT-PCR was performed for cloning the full-length Rcet3 gene from adult mouse testis cDNA library with sequence analysis.


RESULTS
Rcet3 cDNA was 610 bp in length, consisting of 4 exons to encode a protein with 140 amino acid residues. The encoded protein contained a potential signal peptide and a cystatin domain, but lacked critical consensus site important for cysteine protease inhibition. These characteristics could be seen in the Cres subgroup related to the family 2 cystatins. Rcet3 was specifically expressed in adult mouse testis, epididymis and the cerebrum, but at higher levels in the testis than in the epididymis and cerebrum.


CONCLUSIONS
Rcet3 may be a new member of Cres subgroup of family 2 cystatins.
Xiang
Yang
Y
College of Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangdong 510515, China. xiangyang_bio@ 126.com
Zou
Shou-chang
SC
Ou
Xue-ling
XL
Zhou
Ming-qian
MQ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015891:Cystatins / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D015891:Cystatins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; C531386:Rcet1 protein, mouse