title: Initial characterization of C16orf89, a novel thyroid-specific gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid hormone is prerequisite for proper fetal and postnatal neurodevelopment, growth, and metabolism. Although much progress has been made in the characterization of genes implicated in thyroid development and function, the majority of genes involved in this process are still unknown. We have previously applied serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) to identify novel genes preferentially expressed in the thyroid, and this has resulted in the characterization of DUOX2 and IYD (also known as DEHAL1), two genes encoding essential enzymes in the production of thyroid hormone. In the current study we characterize the gene C16orf89, which is linked to another thyroid-specific SAGE tag CCAGCTGCCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We establish tissue-specific expression of C16orf89 using novel tissue-specific SAGE libraries and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, we characterize the C16orf89 gene and protein, and analyze its mRNA expression in response to thyrotropin and during mouse development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C16orf89 is predominantly expressed in human thyroid tissue with a specificity intermediate between thyroid transcription factors and proteins involved in thyroid hormone synthesis. C16orf89 shows the same expression pattern as Nkx2-1 (thyroid transcription factor 1) from embryonic day (E) 17.5 onward in the developing mouse thyroid and lung. The developmental timing of C16orf89 mRNA expression is similar to that of the iodide transporter Slc5a5 (also known as Nis). Both transcripts are detected from E17.5 in the developing thyroid. This is clearly later than the onset of Tg mRNA expression (from E14.5), while Nkx2-1 and Iyd mRNA can already be detected in the E12.5 thyroid. In in vitro cell culture C16orf89 expression is stimulated by thyrotropin. The major splice variant encodes a 361 amino acid protein that is well conserved between mammals, contains an N-terminal signal peptide, is secreted in a glycosylated form, and does not contain any known functional domain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present a novel gene highly expressed in thyroid that encodes a currently enigmatic protein.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Reproductive Biology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. g.b.afink@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Gijs B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Afink
authors.forename: Geertruda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Veenboer
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Randamie
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keijser
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meischl
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niessen
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ris-Stalpers
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C553418:AU021092 protein, mouse; C553417:C16orf89 protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013972:Thyrotropin