Many membrane proteins are anchored to the cell membrane by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). The core structure and biosynthesis of the GPI anchor are well conserved in eukaryote cells. We previously cloned a human PIGA gene that participates in GPI anchor biosynthesis. We have now cloned complementary and genomic DNA of Pig-a, the murine homologue of PIGA, and compared its function and gene structure with those of PIGA. The deduced amino acid sequence of mouse PIG-A is 88% identical with that of human PIG-A. Transfection of Pig-a cDNA complemented the defects of both a PIG-A-deficient murine cell line and a PIG-A-deficient human cell line, demonstrating that functions of mouse and human PIG-A are conserved. Like human PIGA, the chromosomal Pig-a gene has six exons and spans approximately 16 kb. Moreover, Pig-a was mapped to X-F3/4, which is syntenic to human Xp22.1, where PIGA is located. Thus, murine Pig-a provides a good animal model to study paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, a disease caused by a somatic mutation of PIGA. Database analysis demonstrated that a yeast gene, SPT14, is homologous to Pig-a and PIGA and that these genes are members of a glycosyltransferase gene family.

• PMID: 7851884
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Comparative Study | Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Authors

Kawagoe K, Takeda J, Endo Y, Kinoshita T

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