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Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel zinc finger protein: brain expressed ring finger protein (BERP) El-Husseini, Alaa El-Din
Abstract
A novel mammalian RING finger protein which is highly expressed in the brain (Brain expressed RING protein; BERP) was discovered. RING finger proteins are a new family of zinc finger proteins which are involved in processes that regulate cell cycle, growth and differentiation. BERP belongs to a subgroup of RING finger proteins known as the "RING finger-B-box-Coiled Coil (RBCC) proteins. Several RBCC proteins were identified as oncogenes. The human BERP gene mapped to chromosome 1 lpl5, an area containing several tumor suppressor genes. Northern blotting and in situ hybridization analysis indicated that BERP is expressed in all brain regions examined. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that BERP is expressed in several neuronal populations throughout the brain with a punctate pattern in the soma and dendrites. In addition, transiently expressed BERP in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells is found in the cytoplasm with a punctate distribution. However, the expression of a truncated form of BERP which contains only the N-terminal RBCC domain was found in the nucleus. These results suggest that the C-terminal region of BERP may interact with cytoplasmic proteins while the N-terminus may mediate signals in the nucleus. The yeast two-hybrid assay was used to identify proteins which might interact with BERP. An unconventional class V myosin, interacted with the C-terminus of BERP in yeast and co-immunoprecipitated with BERP. Type V myosins have been implicated in vesicular transport. These data suggest that BERP associates with class V unconventinal myosins and may be involved in vesicular transport. Pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells transfected with the N-terminus RBCC domain of BERP did not differentiate following nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment while cells expressing the full-length protein responded to NGF treatment and developed neurites. Hence, expression of the truncated BERP may act as a dominant negative mutant of endogenous BERP and block its in vivo functions. The suggested involvement of BERP in neuronal differentiation is consistent with the role of class V myosins in transporting vesicles to sites of filopodial growth. In conclusion, I have discovered a novel RING finger protein, BERP, which may be required for vesicular transport fostering the differentiation and maintenance of neuronal cells.
Item Metadata
Title |
Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel zinc finger protein: brain expressed ring finger protein (BERP)
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1997
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Description |
A novel mammalian RING finger protein which is highly expressed in the brain (Brain
expressed RING protein; BERP) was discovered. RING finger proteins are a new family of zinc
finger proteins which are involved in processes that regulate cell cycle, growth and
differentiation. BERP belongs to a subgroup of RING finger proteins known as the "RING
finger-B-box-Coiled Coil (RBCC) proteins. Several RBCC proteins were identified as
oncogenes. The human BERP gene mapped to chromosome 1 lpl5, an area containing several
tumor suppressor genes.
Northern blotting and in situ hybridization analysis indicated that BERP is expressed in
all brain regions examined. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that BERP is expressed in
several neuronal populations throughout the brain with a punctate pattern in the soma and
dendrites. In addition, transiently expressed BERP in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells is
found in the cytoplasm with a punctate distribution. However, the expression of a truncated
form of BERP which contains only the N-terminal RBCC domain was found in the nucleus.
These results suggest that the C-terminal region of BERP may interact with cytoplasmic proteins
while the N-terminus may mediate signals in the nucleus.
The yeast two-hybrid assay was used to identify proteins which might interact with
BERP. An unconventional class V myosin, interacted with the C-terminus of BERP in yeast and
co-immunoprecipitated with BERP. Type V myosins have been implicated in vesicular
transport. These data suggest that BERP associates with class V unconventinal myosins and may
be involved in vesicular transport.
Pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells transfected with the N-terminus RBCC domain of
BERP did not differentiate following nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment while cells expressing
the full-length protein responded to NGF treatment and developed neurites. Hence, expression of the truncated BERP may act as a dominant negative mutant of endogenous BERP and block
its in vivo functions. The suggested involvement of BERP in neuronal differentiation is
consistent with the role of class V myosins in transporting vesicles to sites of filopodial growth.
In conclusion, I have discovered a novel RING finger protein, BERP, which may be required for
vesicular transport fostering the differentiation and maintenance of neuronal cells.
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Extent |
22210978 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-04-03
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0088087
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1997-11
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.