title: Characterization of MYG1 gene and protein: subcellular distribution and function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MYG1 [Melanocyte proliferating gene 1, also known as Gamm1 (NM_021640)] is a recently described gene of unknown function. MYG1 orthologues are found in simple as well as complex eukaryotes. According to sequence homology, MYG1 is considered to have a metal-dependent protein hydrolase (UPF0160) domain. The purpose of the present study was to determine the expression and subcellular localization of MYG1 protein and to identify physiological processes connected to MYG1 function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human and mouse MYG1 is ubiquitously expressed, with the highest level in the testis. Analysis of mouse embryos moreover revealed a uniform Myg1 expression at E (embryonic day) 8.5, but at E11.75 expression becomes restricted predominantly to the developing brain and eye, limb buds and tail region. MYG1 exhibits a mitochondrial targeting signal in the N-terminal region and a Pat7-type nuclear localization signal in the region between amino acids 33-39 and localizes to these compartments. No active shuttling of MYG1 between the nucleus and the mitochondria was detected and the distribution of MYG1 was not dependent on the phase of the cell cycle. Immunoprecipitation of C-terminally FLAG-tagged MYG1 from HeLa cells did not identify any co-precipitated proteins. siRNA (short interfering RNA)-mediated knockdown of MYG1 mRNA was mainly followed by changes in the level of transcripts encoding factors involved in developmental tissue patterning and growth as well as immune-related processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, we infer that MYG1 is a ubiquitous nucleo-mitochondrial protein, with differential pattern and level of expression during embryonic development. MYG1 expression in normal adult tissues is stable and our data suggest MYG1 involvement in early developmental processes and also in adult stress/illness conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia. maphilips@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mari-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Philips
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vikeså
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luuk
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jønson
authors.forename: Kersti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lilleväli
authors.forename: Jens F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rehfeld
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.forename: Sulev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kõks
authors.forename: Finn C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005092:Exonucleases; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C541353:MYG1 protein, mouse; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D005092:Exonucleases; C515548:MYG1 protein, human