A novel gene, VPS54-like (Vps54l), is described in the rat that is homologous to the yeast Vps54 gene which is known to be involved in intracellular protein sorting. Furthermore, Vps54-related sequences of human, mouse, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and Arabidopsis thaliana could be identified in the EMBL/GenBank/DDBJ database. Each of the deduced amino acid sequences of the Vps54 genes in these species contain a coiled-coil region and eight to 13 dileucine motifs. The rat Vps54l gene could be mapped to the end of chromosome 14 by radiation hybrid analysis 7 cR(3000) from the D14Rat22 marker and to 14q22 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Using a rat Vps54l-containing P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) clone the respective ortholog was mapped to chromosome 11A3 in the mouse. In addition, the rat genome contains a processed pseudogene of Vps54l on chromosome 7q22. PAC clone analysis shows that the rat Vps54l gene maps close to the UDP-glucose-pyrophosphorylase 2 gene. The two genes are in tail to tail orientation with their polyadenylation sites 497 bp apart. Rat Vps54l appears to be expressed ubiquitously, but at a relatively low level. Alternatively spliced transcripts could be isolated which lack the sequence coding for the coiled-coil region.

• PMID: 12039048
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• PubMed

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Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Authors

Walter L, Stark S, Helou K, Flügge P, Levan G, Günther E

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