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Embryonic stem cell and tissue‐specific expression of a novel conserved gene, asrij
Author(s) -
Mukhopadhyay Arpita,
Das Debjani,
Inamdar Maneesha S.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.10332
Subject(s) - biology , embryonic stem cell , gene , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , alternative splicing , transmembrane protein , messenger rna , genetics , receptor
We have identified a novel gene expressed in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells and in a restricted, tissue‐specific pattern during mouse development. The gene is also expressed in blood vessels; hence, we have named it asrij (Sanskrit; asRˆij = blood). The gene encodes a novel conserved, predicted transmembrane protein of 247 amino acids, which is localized to lysosomes and endosomes. During ES cell‐derived blood vessel formation in vitro, Asrij expression precedes and partially overlaps with the vascular markers Flk‐1 and PECAM. During development, Asrij is expressed predominantly in mouse embryonic blood vessels. The asrij transcript is alternatively spliced, and its expression is regulated in a tissue‐specific manner. An asrij splice variant that is enriched in the adult mouse brain encodes a protein of 196 amino acids. Asrij can serve as an early stem cell marker that is down‐regulated in nonvascular tissues. Our data indicate that Asrij belongs to a novel class of conserved proteins with a complex developmental profile and suggests multiple functions for the gene. Development Dynamics 227:578–586, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.